Personalised La Crema Kelli Ann Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 14.8% 750ml

Personalised  La Crema Kelli Ann Vineyard Chardonnay 2017 14.8% 750ml

Our boutique, hands-on techniques continued into the winery. The fruit was harvested in the cool hours of the morning before being gently sorted at the winery. Whole clusters were placed in the press where they received a gentle squeeze to liberate the free run juice. The resulting juice settled at cold temperatures and was racked the following day to French oak barrels. Primary and secondary fermentation occurred in barrel with lees stirred occasionally for texture development. The finished wine is barrel aged for a minimum of 14 months. Barrels were only racked when the finnal blend is assembled and ready for bottling.

Expert Review:
Ned Goodwill MW- 93 Points, Whole-bunch pressed to French oak (35% new) where 14 months of ageing ensued, with occasional stirring for textural build. The result is one of power and precision. Californian generosity parlayed as a cornucopia of stone fruit accents, dried mango, popcorn and pineapple chunks. A lattice of vanilla pod oak and maritime freshness corrals the fray, imparting brûlée and spicy accents, as much as evincing a grippy authority. Forceful. Intense. Long. An impressive mouthful of wine

Over 30 years of experience working with chardonnay and pinot noir have established La Crema as a winery of consistent quality. 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.

Variety: Chardonnay
Region: Sonoma Valley, California
Winemaker: Craig McAlister