2014 Pivot Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2014 Pinot Noir The Pivot Estate Vineyard is soft, juicy and very pretty. Bright red cherry, chalk and white flowers are some of the signatures. Like most of these wines, the Pivot appears to be very shut down and bottle shocked. There is lovely purity to the flavors that is just waiting to emerge.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The Pivot Vineyard is Littorai’s “home vineyard” surrounding the winery. It is composed mainly of Gold Ridge soil, is all biodynamically managed, and now that the vines are well-established (planted in 2004), it is dry farmed. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2014 Pinot Noir The Pivot Vineyard offers notes of black raspberries and black cherries with underlying touches of fallen leaves, charcoal and black soil, plus a waft of Provence herbs. Medium-bodied with a firm backbone of chewy tannins, it has plenty of complex earth and black fruit flavor layers with a lovely herbal lift on the finish. 430 cases were made.
Aromas of tile and strawberry. Hints of herb. Medium to full body, soft and silky tannins and a savory finish. Refined and pretty. Drink now.
Like all of the Littorai 2014 Pinots, the Pivot Estate Vineyard is deep, powerful and incisive, all qualities that are on full display, even though the wine was racked just prior to my visit. The flavors are brilliant and finely sculpted throughout, while the whole clusters add considerable nuance. This is an impressive showing, especially considering I tasted the wine under less than ideal circumstances.
About the producer
Littorai stands as one of California’s most quietly influential estates, defined by organic and biodynamic farming, site transparency, and a restrained, Burgundian sensibility.