La Crema Monterey Chardonnay 2022

Description

Over 30 years of experience working with chardonnay and pinot noir have established La Crema as a winery of consistent quality in the USA. La Crema produces wines from top cool-climate appellations to include; Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Monterey and most recently Willamette. The unifying factors of all these sites are their cool, windy climates and marine-based soils.
La Crema’s vineyards are all harvested by hand in the cooler morning hours. The winemaking techniques are primarily traditional with modern enhancements to ensure that the wines are true to both the variety and the terroir. Chardonnays are whole-cluster pressed and fermented and aged in French oak on the lees with bi-monthly battonage to add texture and complexity. The Pinot Noirs are cold soaked for five to eight days before fermentation in small, open-top fermenters and aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. As with the Chardonnay, La Crema’s Pinot Noirs are pure, accurate and reflective of their origin.
Outstanding vineyard sources, limited yields and artisanal wine making produce wines that receive high acclaim.

From the winemaker, Jennifer Walsh “Our original name, La Crema Vinera, means “best of the vine,” setting the standard for all we do since 1979. Our family-owned and operated winery focuses exclusively on cool-climate appellations, passionate in our belief that they make uniquely expressive and elegant wines.”

A long, long valley, both pastoral and austere. On one end, the Monterey Bay— dramatically deep, unusually cold. On the other, Central California, rich in history and agriculture. Throughout, a brisk, ever-present breeze that rises from the ocean and cools both fields of produce and expansive, rolling vineyards. This is Monterey—rocky, windswept and unrestrained.

Winery notes about this vintage: “The Monterey Region had a wet start to winter- with early rainfalls helping to ease drought conditions by replenishing both soil moisture and reservoirs. Thankfully, Monterey avoided spring frosts that caused some problems in other areas. Budbreak and early season growth proceeded without concern.

A mild spring and summer followed, and all was normal until the September heatwave bought record temperatures to the region and with it a very rapid onset to harvest. We did see slightly lower than average yields in Monterey in 2022 but a quality harvest was quickly apparent with concentrated flavors, balanced acidity and refined phenolic development being the norm.

“Fruit is gently pressed followed by settling for 24 hours then racked to barrel for fermentation. Lees stirred monthly. Aged on lees for 5-6 months.

“Aromas of grilled pineapple, Asian pear, tangerine, and papaya are followed by flavors of white peach, Anjou pear, Key lime and honeydew melon which are complemented by a touch of barrel spice and river stone minerality. Balanced acidity lingers on a long finish.”

RRP $47   Special price when you buy 6 bottles or more $34.99