Wine of the week: snap up this soon-to-be legendary Californian pinot
This is the most beautifully thought through, carefully judged, respectfully oaked and finely tuned red wine.
2018 Littorai, The Pivot Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California
£470 in bond for six bottles, rennaisancevintners.com; £380 in bond for six bottles, Wimbledon Wine Cellar 020-8540 9979
The topic of top-end Californian pinot noir might seem a little esoteric, but I cannot get through this week without flagging up this wine for you because I know that there are super-nerd fans out there, and they will go gaga for this wine. The 2018 The Pivot is the finest American pinot noir I have ever tasted.
Made by Ted and Heidi Lemon from a 2.8-acre biodynamic vineyard, this is the most beautifully thought through, carefully judged, respectfully oaked and finely tuned red wine, and it manages to add a whisper of whole-bunch detail (37%), too – Ted and Heidi adding ravishing “seasoning” to their pristine fruit with consummate accuracy. I was so taken by this wine after first encountering it, I immediately bought three bottles and opened them for a series of my most forensic wine pals to enjoy. It passed every analysis with flying colours, accompanied by oohs and aahs.
I then poured it at a corporate event and a further 25 wine lovers fell at its feet. Please do look up Littorai and learn more about the Lemons and their talents because they are a fascinating pair. This wine has yet to secure a wine-shop listing, but two merchants have put their hand up with rather differing prices! My advice is to get in quickly because only 515 cases were made of this soon-to-be legendary wine.
Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (matthewjukes.com)