August 24, 2010
Romancing the Dijon Clones Buena Vista: My House Red and White Lenné Estate: 2008s are Best Ever Domaine Drouhin Oregon: Burgundy’s First Footprint in Oregon Spätburgunder Robert Sinskey Vineyards Raiding the Library of the Pinot Carzina: Lane Tanner Pinot Noir, 1988-2007 LIOCO Winery: A Different Path Sta. Rita Hills: California’s Best AVA for Chardonnay? Sips of Pinot Noir Pinot Briefs Doctoring Wine for Optimum Drinking
|
|
La Crema Winery
| Owner(s) | Jennifer Jackson, Laura Jackson-Grion |
| Web site | www.lacrema.com |
| Link to this site |
La Crema Winery is a family-owned estate in the Russian River Valley that specializes in handcrafted, Burgundian style Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from cool climate vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Established in 1979, the winery has never allowed visitors, but the label quickly gained a reputation for quality and is a label you can always count on for consistently fine wines. The owners are Laura Jackson-Giron and her sister Jennifer Jackson.
Several winemakers developed the La Crema Winery style through the years, including Dan Goldfield (Dutton-Goldfield) and Jeff Stewart (Buena Vista). In 2004, La Crema hired Melissa Stackhouse to oversee all aspects of winemaking and the wines have reached a level of remarkable high quality considering the relatively large production and value-pricing. The popularity of the label has never been higher. In the latest Wine & Spirits Restaurant poll (April, 2008), La Crema was #12 in the Restaurant Top 50 of wines selling best at polled restaurants. Pinot Noir has become the biggest seller on many winery lists (even in Napa Valley) and La Crema Sonoma and Sonoma Coast bottlings are the most popular (#1) Pinot Noir poured at restaurants.
Stackhouse is a Michigan native who had intended to go into nursing after college. The call of winemaking led her to University California Davis and then stints at Robert Mondavi, Sterling, Joseph Phelps and Peter Michael. She joined La Crema in 2000 as Associate Winemaker. Prior to La Crema, she had worked at Peter Michael Winery, Hardy’s Tintara Winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia and Joseph Phelps Vineyards. She holds a BS degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California Davis. She has been able to focus on cool-climate vineyards and terroirs, creating finely-tuned wines of admirable elegance and balance. You might see her as well cycling along a road in Sonoma County, as she is a resident of Healdsburg and participates in triathlons. Not surprisingly, she also turns her artistic winemaking flair to creative pursuits such as the symphony and ballet.
At least one of the La Crema bottlings is usually available on your local supermarket or wine retailer shelves. When friends new to wine, and recently that included my son who was invited to dinner, want a suggestion of a Pinot Noir to bring, I often recommend La Crema. They usually thank me afterwards, but it is, in fact, no secret, and an easy recommendation to make. All of the Pinot Noirs are appellation blends. The winery is not open to the public but there is a tasting room open daily in the town of Healdsburg.
Articles About La Crema Winery
California Chardonnay Tasting (7.25 9/5/2009)
California Recession-Busting Pinots (7.6 11/17/2008)
La Crema - A Label You Can Count On (6.57 4/7/2008)
Monterey County: Great Pinot Values (7.25 9/5/2009)
Pinot Noirs from Producers Outside the Anderson Valley that Source Grapes from within the Anderson Valley (6.60 6/9/2008)
Sips of 2006 California Pinot Noirs (7.21 7/9/2009)
Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noirs (6.28 6/3/2007)
Reviewed Wines
2007 La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $24.
·
The aromas
explode from the glass over time with heavenly scents of dark Pinot fruits,
cardamon spice and a whiff of smoky oak. Perfectly composed with an
array of flavors including plum, blackberry, raspberry, tea and smoke. A
fruit-driven wine with a generosity that fills the mouth. Perfect harmony.
Clearly, the best wine in this lineup.
Reviewed September 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 1,800
cases, $30. Released January 2009. Clones 115, 667, 777 and 23.
Grapes are de-stemmed, cold soaked 4 days, aged 9 months in 48%
new French oak (medium and medium plus toast levels).
·
Moderate
garnet color. Lovely perfume of cherries and berries with sage.
Powerfully flavored ripe berry fruit with a base of minerals and earth.
Very friendly in the mouth with a creamy, sexy quality and plenty of vim on the tangy
finish. A high-collared and impressive wine.
Reviewed June 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $16.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color. A cherrydriven
wine that is medium-weighted offering tangy fruit flavors enhanced by a touch of spice. The oak is well
integrated, the texture is silky and the finish is dry and refreshing. Noticeably less tannic than typical Sonoma
Coast Pinot Noirs and more akin to Russian River Valley Pinot Noir bottlings.
Reviewed November 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 2,000 cases, $34.
Just released. Clones are Pommard, 115, 667 and 777.
·
Very heavy bottle, don’t
try lifting this with one arm. A black cherry delight from start to finish. Notes of
spearmint and smoke add interest to the nose and black raspberry chimes in on
the finish. Plush and healthy ripe fruit with velveteen mouth feel. Impeccable
balance and thoroughly satisfying.
Reviewed June 9, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema Nine Barrel Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14,5% alc., 225
cases, $70. Nine best barrels in the cellar.
·
Very fruity nose with an array of
interesting aromas including roasted pear, tutti-fruity, vanilla and toasted meringue.
Full-bodied poached pear and apple tart flavors cascade through the palate. A
hedonistic wine for contemplation.
Reviewed September 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema 9 Barrels Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 225
cases, $90. The most exceptional nine barrels in the cellar. Clones are 115, 667,
777, 23 and Pommard. All free-run juice and aged for 9 months in 45% new
French oak. The Nine Barrel blend is layered and then racked to one-year-old
French oak barrels for an additional 5 months of aging.
·
Deep ruby color. Ever
changing aromas of Bing cherries, cherry cola, Asian spice, and oak vanillin. Rich
dark blackberry fruit that is intense but not jammy. Oak plays a light supporting
role. Plenty of lively acid and ripe tannins to balance the prodigious fruit.
Beautifully crafted with perfect harmony. A very good wine but doesn’t yet quite
deliver the emotion one expects from such an expensive wine. Cellar for at least
a year or two.
Reviewed July 9, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $22. Gold Medal
Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
·
Complex aromatics of wet leaf, mown hay,
char and dark fruit. Some appealing minerality and notable herbs and dirt
enhance the slightly muted dark Pinot fruits. Velvety mouth feel and a lingering tang, even high strung,
finish.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.., $25.
·
This has to be
one of the best Pinot Noirs crafted at this price level. The nose is pure fruit -
crushed cherries, raspberries, strawberries. The red fruit flavors linger an
eternity on the finish. This is a wine that feels like velvet and revels in its finesse.
Reviewed June 3, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $34. Dijon
clones 115, 667 and 777. 33% new barrels.
·
Fairly dark ruby color.
Rather flamboyant scents of dusty cherries. Soft in the mouth, the dark red
cherries are highlighted by herbs and spice and a touch of earth, ending
with a refreshing acid lift. Delivers more on the nose than in the mouth.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Los Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $34. Pommard, 115, 667 and 777 clones.
·
Deeper, darker and denser than the other wines in the lineup. This one really pumps out the aromas of
rich black cherry and boysenberries. The black fruits carry the theme to a slightly dry and tannic finish.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $34. 47% new barrels. Dijon and Pommard
clones.
·
This is the most showy wine and has the most appealing velvety texture in the lineup. Starts
off with black cherry, honey and green herb scents leading to flavors of Bing cherry with herbs, and
woodsy accents. Clean finish and very drinkable.
Reviewed April 7, 2008
ARTICLE »
2007 La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., $24. · The aromas explode from the glass over time with heavenly scents of dark Pinot fruits, cardamon spice and a whiff of smoky oak. Perfectly composed with an array of flavors including plum, blackberry, raspberry, tea and smoke. A fruit-driven wine with a generosity that fills the mouth. Perfect harmony. Clearly, the best wine in this lineup. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 1,800 cases, $30. Released January 2009. Clones 115, 667, 777 and 23. Grapes are de-stemmed, cold soaked 4 days, aged 9 months in 48% new French oak (medium and medium plus toast levels). · Moderate garnet color. Lovely perfume of cherries and berries with sage. Powerfully flavored ripe berry fruit with a base of minerals and earth. Very friendly in the mouth with a creamy, sexy quality and plenty of vim on the tangy finish. A high-collared and impressive wine. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $16. · Moderately light reddish-purple color. A cherrydriven wine that is medium-weighted offering tangy fruit flavors enhanced by a touch of spice. The oak is well integrated, the texture is silky and the finish is dry and refreshing. Noticeably less tannic than typical Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs and more akin to Russian River Valley Pinot Noir bottlings. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 2,000 cases, $34. Just released. Clones are Pommard, 115, 667 and 777. · Very heavy bottle, don’t try lifting this with one arm. A black cherry delight from start to finish. Notes of spearmint and smoke add interest to the nose and black raspberry chimes in on the finish. Plush and healthy ripe fruit with velveteen mouth feel. Impeccable balance and thoroughly satisfying. Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema Nine Barrel Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14,5% alc., 225 cases, $70. Nine best barrels in the cellar. · Very fruity nose with an array of interesting aromas including roasted pear, tutti-fruity, vanilla and toasted meringue. Full-bodied poached pear and apple tart flavors cascade through the palate. A hedonistic wine for contemplation. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2006 La Crema 9 Barrels Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 225 cases, $90. The most exceptional nine barrels in the cellar. Clones are 115, 667, 777, 23 and Pommard. All free-run juice and aged for 9 months in 45% new French oak. The Nine Barrel blend is layered and then racked to one-year-old French oak barrels for an additional 5 months of aging. · Deep ruby color. Ever changing aromas of Bing cherries, cherry cola, Asian spice, and oak vanillin. Rich dark blackberry fruit that is intense but not jammy. Oak plays a light supporting role. Plenty of lively acid and ripe tannins to balance the prodigious fruit. Beautifully crafted with perfect harmony. A very good wine but doesn’t yet quite deliver the emotion one expects from such an expensive wine. Cellar for at least a year or two. Reviewed July 9, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., $22. Gold Medal Sonoma County Harvest Fair. · Complex aromatics of wet leaf, mown hay, char and dark fruit. Some appealing minerality and notable herbs and dirt enhance the slightly muted dark Pinot fruits. Velvety mouth feel and a lingering tang, even high strung, finish. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.., $25. · This has to be one of the best Pinot Noirs crafted at this price level. The nose is pure fruit - crushed cherries, raspberries, strawberries. The red fruit flavors linger an eternity on the finish. This is a wine that feels like velvet and revels in its finesse. Reviewed June 3, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $34. Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777. 33% new barrels. · Fairly dark ruby color. Rather flamboyant scents of dusty cherries. Soft in the mouth, the dark red cherries are highlighted by herbs and spice and a touch of earth, ending with a refreshing acid lift. Delivers more on the nose than in the mouth. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Los Carneros Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $34. Pommard, 115, 667 and 777 clones. · Deeper, darker and denser than the other wines in the lineup. This one really pumps out the aromas of rich black cherry and boysenberries. The black fruits carry the theme to a slightly dry and tannic finish. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 La Crema Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $34. 47% new barrels. Dijon and Pommard clones. · This is the most showy wine and has the most appealing velvety texture in the lineup. Starts off with black cherry, honey and green herb scents leading to flavors of Bing cherry with herbs, and woodsy accents. Clean finish and very drinkable. Reviewed April 7, 2008 ARTICLE »
TRAVEL ALONG THE PINOT TRAIL | PINOT FESTIVALS | PODCASTS AND VIDEO | TESTIMONIALS | GRAPE RADIO | LINKS
© 2003-2009 William Gaffney MD | Contact the Prince: Prince@PrinceOfPinot.com