January 25, 2012
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Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
| Owner(s) | Nadia Wellisz, Selim Zilkha |
| Web site | www.laetitiawine.com |
| Link to this site |
Laetitia has a colorful history going back to 1982 when French winery Champagne Maison Deutz first planted vineyards in the Arroyo Grande Valley six miles south of Pismo Beach. In 1997, Jean-Claude Tardivat purchased the vineyards, renaming the estate Laetitia after his daughter. One year later, the winery was sold again to a partnership that included Selim Zilkha. In 2001, Selim and his daughter, Nadia Wellisz, became the sole proprietors.
The estate vineyard comprises 1,888 acres, with 620 acres currently planted to grape vines, making it the largest privately owned Pinot Noir plantings in California. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted variety (434 acres), followed by Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Tempranillo, Syrah, Pinot Gris, and a small amount of Riesling. The Laetitia label focuses on Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Dave Hickey, started at the vineyard when it was still Maison Deutz in 1990. He now oversees the sparkling wine production and his son, Eric Hickey oversees production of Laetitia's still wines.
Laetitia wines may be purchased at the winery’s website or at the tasting room in Arroyo Grande on Highway 101 which is open daily from 11:00 to 5:00. The winery's estate Pinot Noir is value-priced and consistently fine with each vintage. There is also a Reserve bottling and two excellent single-vineyard wines - La Colline and La Galets. Production is about 50,000 cases annually.
Articles About Laetitia Vineyard & Winery
Reviewed Wines
NV Laetitia Arroyo Grande Brut Cuvèe Sparkling Wine
12.5% alc.,
pH 3.1, TA 0.82, $22. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc grapes.
Whole-cluster pressed and tank fermented using Champagne yeast.
Crafted in Méthode Champenoise tradition. 24 months en tirage.
·
Pale gold color in the glass with a fine bead. Bright aromas of apples,
pears, honey, roasted nuts and vanilla. The flavors follow in step with
a crisp, tightly wound offering of green apple, Asian pear, and lemony
wafer goodness. Bone dry and lively, displaying a bright nerve of acidity.
Very Good.
Reviewed September 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2010 Laetitia Estate Arroyo Grande Chardonnay
13.5% alc., pH 3.42, TA 0.663, $18. Dijon clones
96 & 97, Wente 17 and 4. Whole-cluster pressed and 100% MLF. Aged 9 months in 25% new and
75% neutral French oak barrels.
·
Very light straw color in the glass. Shy aromas of baked apple lead
to medium-weight delicate flavors of Asian pears, lemon and green apple. Restrained in character
but satisfying. Nicely avoids prominent oak and oak-derived flavors so common in California
Chardonnay today. A solid pick. Good (+).
Reviewed September 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Laetitia Estate Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.63,
TA 0.592, $25. Multiple clones including 113, 115, 459, 667, 777, 828,
Pommard 5, 2A, Martini 13 and Mt Eden. 100% de-stemmed, 3-day
cold soak, quick fermentation. Aged 11 months in 30% new and 70%
neutral French oak barrels.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the
glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of spiced berries, black cherries,
cassis and prune, persisting in the glass over time.The palate is all Pinot with
riper flavored fruits featured including dark red raspberries and cherries,
embellished with a hint of Asian spice, and clothed in soft tannins. Smooth in
the mouth with an underlying nerve of acidity that brightens the fruit. This
bottling is a consistent performer with good value. Very Good.
Reviewed September 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc.. A barrel selection, estate grown, bottled and produced at Laetitia.
From a cool site 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean that is sustainably farmed.
Clones 115, 667, 459, 2A, Pommard 5, and Martini B. Aged 11 months in 40%
new and 60% neutral oak barrels. Eric Hickey is the winemaker.
·
Dark reddishpurple
color in the glass. Very appealing aromatics offering black cherries,
strawberries, spice, rose petals and a little ocean air. Luscious core of dark
berries and strawberries with hints of earthy loam and cola. Rich and full-bodied
but retains a charming appeal. Mild tannins make for easy drinking. A bold wine
that makes a statement and attracks your attention. Very good.
Reviewed April 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Laetitia La Colline Old Vine Martini Clone 12 Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
Lovely aromatics of
wild berries and cherries. Black cherry flavor core with earthy highlights. Lively acidity.
Reviewed March 23, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Laetitia La Colline Young Vine Clones 459, 667 Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
More leafy and
more oaky on nose. Charming dark Pinot fruits with smoke accents. More tannin evident.
Reviewed March 23, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Reserve Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
2,200
cases, $40. This is reliable Central Coast producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and
sparkling wine who has fared well in past Pinot Summit events. Available now from
the winery’s website.
·
Restrained but pleasant dark berry and cherry pie aromas with
a healthy core of well-spiced black cherry and blackberry fruit that fans out nicely on
the palate and finishes with persistence. Very user-friendly.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Estate Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 5,000 cases, $25 (sold for as little as $18 in some retail stores). The clonal blend for the 2005 vintage is 30% Martini and 70% Dijon 115, 667, 777 and 2A. The growing season was mild allowing for ripe flavors at relatively low sugar levels. Yields were 2 to 2.5 tons per acre. The wine was aged for 8 months in 30% new French oak barrels. This is the first of the 2005 vintage from the Central Coast that I have tasted, and if any indication, this should be a terrific and even landmark year for Pinot Noir from this region.
·
This Pinot is dark violet in color. The charming aromas and flavors feature plums, black cherries, earth and spice. There is plenty of structure to appeal to those who prefer a bigger mouth feel, but the overall impression is one of sexy silkiness. Nicely balanced so easy to cozy up to now. How do they do this for $25?
Reviewed May 22, 2006
2004 Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Laetitia Vineyard Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
440 cases, $65. Laetitia has a colorful history going back to
1982 when Champagne Deutz first planted vineyards in the Arroyo
Grande Valley. Since 2001, the winery has been under the ownership
of businessman Selim Zilkha and the wines have starred ever since.
The current winemaker, Eric Hickey, has been at the helm since 1990. The wine may be purchased at the winery’s website:
www.laetitiawine.com.
·
This Pinot is nicely perfumed with spicy cherries and floral notes. A little
cinnamon candy peaks out as well. Elegant and soft, the palate is all Pinot
with emphasis on finesse over fruit heaviness. This finish is clean and
zippy.
Reviewed January 22, 2007
ARTICLE »
NV Laetitia Arroyo Grande Brut Cuvèe Sparkling Wine
12.5% alc., pH 3.1, TA 0.82, $22. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc grapes. Whole-cluster pressed and tank fermented using Champagne yeast. Crafted in Méthode Champenoise tradition. 24 months en tirage. · Pale gold color in the glass with a fine bead. Bright aromas of apples, pears, honey, roasted nuts and vanilla. The flavors follow in step with a crisp, tightly wound offering of green apple, Asian pear, and lemony wafer goodness. Bone dry and lively, displaying a bright nerve of acidity. Very Good. Reviewed September 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2010 Laetitia Estate Arroyo Grande Chardonnay
13.5% alc., pH 3.42, TA 0.663, $18. Dijon clones 96 & 97, Wente 17 and 4. Whole-cluster pressed and 100% MLF. Aged 9 months in 25% new and 75% neutral French oak barrels. · Very light straw color in the glass. Shy aromas of baked apple lead to medium-weight delicate flavors of Asian pears, lemon and green apple. Restrained in character but satisfying. Nicely avoids prominent oak and oak-derived flavors so common in California Chardonnay today. A solid pick. Good (+). Reviewed September 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Laetitia Estate Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.63, TA 0.592, $25. Multiple clones including 113, 115, 459, 667, 777, 828, Pommard 5, 2A, Martini 13 and Mt Eden. 100% de-stemmed, 3-day cold soak, quick fermentation. Aged 11 months in 30% new and 70% neutral French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with aromas of spiced berries, black cherries, cassis and prune, persisting in the glass over time.The palate is all Pinot with riper flavored fruits featured including dark red raspberries and cherries, embellished with a hint of Asian spice, and clothed in soft tannins. Smooth in the mouth with an underlying nerve of acidity that brightens the fruit. This bottling is a consistent performer with good value. Very Good. Reviewed September 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc.. A barrel selection, estate grown, bottled and produced at Laetitia. From a cool site 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean that is sustainably farmed. Clones 115, 667, 459, 2A, Pommard 5, and Martini B. Aged 11 months in 40% new and 60% neutral oak barrels. Eric Hickey is the winemaker. · Dark reddishpurple color in the glass. Very appealing aromatics offering black cherries, strawberries, spice, rose petals and a little ocean air. Luscious core of dark berries and strawberries with hints of earthy loam and cola. Rich and full-bodied but retains a charming appeal. Mild tannins make for easy drinking. A bold wine that makes a statement and attracks your attention. Very good. Reviewed April 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Laetitia La Colline Old Vine Martini Clone 12 Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
Lovely aromatics of wild berries and cherries. Black cherry flavor core with earthy highlights. Lively acidity. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Laetitia La Colline Young Vine Clones 459, 667 Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
More leafy and more oaky on nose. Charming dark Pinot fruits with smoke accents. More tannin evident. Reviewed March 23, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Reserve Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
2,200 cases, $40. This is reliable Central Coast producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wine who has fared well in past Pinot Summit events. Available now from the winery’s website. · Restrained but pleasant dark berry and cherry pie aromas with a healthy core of well-spiced black cherry and blackberry fruit that fans out nicely on the palate and finishes with persistence. Very user-friendly. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Estate Arroyo Grande Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 5,000 cases, $25 (sold for as little as $18 in some retail stores). The clonal blend for the 2005 vintage is 30% Martini and 70% Dijon 115, 667, 777 and 2A. The growing season was mild allowing for ripe flavors at relatively low sugar levels. Yields were 2 to 2.5 tons per acre. The wine was aged for 8 months in 30% new French oak barrels. This is the first of the 2005 vintage from the Central Coast that I have tasted, and if any indication, this should be a terrific and even landmark year for Pinot Noir from this region. · This Pinot is dark violet in color. The charming aromas and flavors feature plums, black cherries, earth and spice. There is plenty of structure to appeal to those who prefer a bigger mouth feel, but the overall impression is one of sexy silkiness. Nicely balanced so easy to cozy up to now. How do they do this for $25? Reviewed May 22, 2006
2004 Laetitia Vineyard & Winery Laetitia Vineyard Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir
440 cases, $65. Laetitia has a colorful history going back to 1982 when Champagne Deutz first planted vineyards in the Arroyo Grande Valley. Since 2001, the winery has been under the ownership of businessman Selim Zilkha and the wines have starred ever since. The current winemaker, Eric Hickey, has been at the helm since 1990. The wine may be purchased at the winery’s website: www.laetitiawine.com. · This Pinot is nicely perfumed with spicy cherries and floral notes. A little cinnamon candy peaks out as well. Elegant and soft, the palate is all Pinot with emphasis on finesse over fruit heaviness. This finish is clean and zippy. Reviewed January 22, 2007 ARTICLE »
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