Winemaker Notes
In the 2004 vintage, tannin levels were average for Littorai, yet the Pinots have great palate authority, driven by aromatic intensity and the bright acidity. They are sappy, nervy wines full of aromas of the underbrush, of briar patches and the dark recesses of the forest. They are now moving into the fully mature phase when they still show lovely fruit but have begun to display wonderful bottle aged characters.
This is wine for game dishes, hearty foods and stormy nights.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.