2021 Pinot Noir Thieriot Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Pinot Noir B.A. Thieriot Vineyard, from vines planted in 1991 and 1994, opens with integrated flinty notes accenting scents of raspberry, strawberry, burnt orange peel, autumn leaves, conifer and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is vibrant and velvety, its fruit youthfully coiled at this stage, though it has a very long, ultra spicy finish. It has tightened up a bit since I tasted it in early 2023, and it deserves several years to unwind. 195 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinot Noir Thieriot Vineyard Estate bristles with tension and energy. The aromatics alone are beguiling, and yet the Thieriot really comes alive on the palate. Rose petal, mint, crushed rocks, blood orange and white pepper abound. All things considered, the 2021 is a relatively open young wine for this site, where the wines are usually more vibrant. This is such a classy wine.
Pale ruby in colour. Fresh, bright, lightly herbal – sappy, with a bite of walnut bitters. Red-fruited with pomegranate, cherry and red plum. Sandy tannin and gentle, broad acidity. Peony-tea finish. (SCJ)
The 2021 Pinot Noir Thieriot Vineyard Estate shows, once again, why this site is so magical. Dark and beautifully layered, the 2021 races across the palate with black cherry, gravel, dried herbs, menthol and sage. The Thieriot was done with fully destemmed fruit, but it has the strong mineral and savory inflections that are such signatures of this site. Vertical in build, with dazzling energy, the 2021 is shaping up to be tremendous.
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.