“Among the purest, most long-lasting expressions of Pinot Noir in the New World, Littorai wines have earned Lemon a reputation not as a Burgundian interpreter of California, but as a true American master. It is why Ted Lemon is the Winemaker of the Year.” – San Francisco Chronicle, 2010

Now take a gander at this.

To be clear, what we have for you today is NOT a Littorai. Sad to say this fabled Pinot producer will never appear on our site. Littorai has no problem moving wine via their devout mailing list, and many eager buyers are waiting to even get on the list for the privilege.

But this is so damn CLOSE.

Especially at a price that makes us blush. For what you get in the bottle, it’s like finding a dupe on a sidewalk vendor in NYC that’s truly comparable - sure it’s not the real thing, but it looks, smells, and tastes like the real deal. Sooooo…what’s the catch? There is none.

The Inquirer defines the Ted Lemon school of winemaking best, with a comparison: “Like many of the best wineries in Sonoma, both Kosta Browne and Littorai lie hidden behind unmarked gates where only those with appointments get a pass code to unlock the entry. Both are among the most coveted producers of Pinot Noir in America, able to extract the essence of famously delicate grapes that thrive in the warm days and cool, fog-shrouded nights that hug the Northern California coast. Ted Lemon of Littorai Wines produces Pinot Noirs marked by Burgundy-style finesse and Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne Winery makes pinots with deep, rich color and a high-octane intensity.”

So, when our friends at Chronicle wines went over to him for what amounted to his “leftovers” of the vintage. They tasted the barrels and struck a deal for a few lots they loved.

And while sometimes you can find extra barrels of juice at ultra-premium producers, you’re left wondering “why don’t they just bottle and sell it for their normal $90?”.

Anderson Valley Pinot was ethereal, like MILES ahead of anyone else’s single-vineyard rejects within sight. At just 12.5% alcohol, it’s bound to ignite any given weekday night with Pinot passion, with zero regrets the following day. Make sure you don’t open a second one as I did - tempting as it may be - you’ll be happy to have it another night.

Smooth, ripe and generous, with that characteristic Anderson Valley marriage of red and black cherries with nuances of earthiness and baking spices, delicate notes of plum, raspberry and vanilla shadings too as it turns complex on a long finish. Very pretty, supple and harmonious, with a wonderful, long finish. So obvious that there was a magic touch here, you’ll know it from the very first sip to the very last.

By deduction, we can guesstimate what’s in here, since in 2020 Ted Lemon worked with these Anderson Valley vineyards: Wendling, Cerise, Les Larmes, Roman, Savoy, One Acre, and The Return and each could be contributing to the greater than its parts synergy found in this STEAL of a Pinot.

There it is, $95 worth of fruit in a $29 package, just because you’re IN on it.