Sonoma Coast

B.A. Thieriot Vineyard

Eight and a half acres southwest of Occidental that Littorai has farmed as an estate for more than a decade, at very low yields, averaging 1.38 tons an acre for Pinot Noir.

History

Cameron and Bridgit Thieriot bought the property in 1988 and Warren Dutton planted it in 1989. Ted and Heidi Lemon took a long-term lease on it for Littorai and have farmed it as an estate vineyard ever since. The family name is spelled Thieriot; the shortened spelling that circulates in study material is wrong. Senses Wines, co-founded by Max Thieriot, who grew up on the property, also draws from it.

The Site

About 900 feet up, southwest of Occidental and overlooking Bodega, with a ridge to the north shielding it from the worst of the wind and fog. Soils are Goldridge loam over sandstone with Josephine series in part. Littorai farms it organically and biodynamically without seeking certification. The twenty-year average yield for the Pinot Noir is 1.38 tons per acre.

Vines and Blocks

Roughly 8.5 acres planted, about five to Chardonnay and three and a half to Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay draws on Dijon 95 alongside Hyde and Dutton selections; the Pinot Noir is a field blend of Swan, Pommard, Calera and Dijon material rather than a single clone.

The Wines

Littorai's B.A. Thieriot Chardonnay is one of the label's defining wines. Rivers-Marie and Senses Wines also bottle from the property.

This guide is part of the WineSaint Wine Region Guide collection.

Vineyard Details

Appellation
Sonoma Coast · Sonoma County
Size
8.5 acres
Planted Since
1996
Key Grapes
Pinot NoirChardonnay
Key Producers
Littorai, Senses