Littorai Pinot Noir

 Littorai The Pivot Vineyard 2015

Littorai is a family owned winery with the focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

After studying winemaking and doing apprenticeship in France, Ted Lemon became the first American winemaker / vineyard manager in Burgundy, at Domaine Roulot.

He searched places, after came back to US, where he could make Pinot Noir which would reflect its terroir, and founded Littorai in Sonoma with his wife Heidi in 1993.

The Pivot vineyard is on the rolling hills in Sonoma Coast.

The wine had decent aromas of rose, cherry blossom, herb, medicinal, cranberry, liquorice candy, incense.
Acid is high and tannin is silky.
Smooth, delicate texture.

There is a tiny sign of the lemon and crown on the label.

This is said to be given to Ted Lemon as "prince of Pinot Noir" by fellow producers from France.

St. George Spirits Tour

We went for the distillery tour and tasting of St. George Spirits which is a distillery in Alameda.
Alameda is the island across from San Francisco, and the view of San Francisco can be enjoyed from the parking lot.

The range of products of St. George includes vodka, gin, whiskey, absinthe, liqueur and even shochu!
They are also known for once accidentally creating mustard gas during the production of Wasabi Vodka!

St. George Spirits was established in 1982.
This is their first still.

I love the look of the copper still.
Copper is the preferred material for stills since it reacts with sulfurs and removes them.

They do experimental ageing with different barrels such as maturing whiskey in umeshu (Japanese plum liqueur) barrels.

After the tour, we had a tasting.

Flavored vodkas and gins were fun to try.
All purpose vodka is our staple for cocktail making.

This is the shochu. The label says ramen shop shochu because this is inspired by Ramen Shop in Oakland.
Made with California rice.
I love the label design with the bear saying "roars of bear". It's somehow very funny.

Baller Single Malt Whiskey.
Made with 100% American barley. Aged in casks, charcoal filtered, then matured in barrels which held umeshu prior to this process.
There was a touch of sweetness. Probably from umashu?

Informative tour, delicious drinks and gorgeous view. The guide was friendly and professional.
If you are interested, parking is easy and the distillery can be reached by the ferry from San Francisco.

Delas Freres Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage

I had an opportunity to have vertical tasting of Delas Freres Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage.

Delas Freres is the producer from Rhone Valley, France. They make wines from Northern Rhone, and especially ones from Hermitage and Cote Rotie are well-regarded.

Delas Freres Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage is made with Syrah grown in Hermitage. Grapes are destemmed and new French oak barrels are partially used for ageing.
Wines from Hermitage are usually dense and full-bodied.

Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage 2011
Rich, ripe fruit. Soft tannin and velvety texture.

Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage 2012
Floral characters are balanced with tannin.

Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage 2013
Spice and fruit. Firm structure.
JC says this would be good with lamb.

Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage 2014
Approachable wine which is similar to 2011 with shorter length.

All of them are big yet approachable. Great wines in different ways.

I also got to try Les Bessards 2015
Les Bessards is 14 acres vineyard in Hermitage.
This wine showed even more concentration.
Great wine.