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89POINTS
16¼/20
La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United StatesWinemaker Craig McAllister does a sensitive job of shepherding this large production chardonnay and keeping it fresh and relevant. Post ferment, it spends six months in a 75/25 mix of French and American oak (17% new). I love the fresh Meyer lemon, ripe pear that settles comfortably into the oak mixing with green apple, and a mineral /tangerine note. Sonoma Coast is big, but the fruit is well-defined from La Crema estate vineyards, including Laughlin, Saralees, Fluton, KelliAnn, Carneros Hills West, Carneros Hills East, Piner, and Dur ll. The clones are a complex mix of 4,5,15, 17 (Robert Young), 76, 95, 96, 809, Wente, and Hyde Wente, all of which add unique input to the final blend. A relatively dry winter with exacerbated drought conditions led to a cold Spring before warmer temperatures triggered an August 26 picking. 15% of the barrels are initially co-inoculated with a house strain of malolactic bacteria, later used to top off the remainder of the entire lot after primary fermentation. The lees in each barrel are stirred once or twice a month to provide additional texture, and the final blend is aged on its lees for seven months before blending and bottling.Tasted: 13 January 2023Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $33.99 | 750ml | BCLS |
| AB | $30.00 | 750ml | select private retailers |
| SK | $35.00 | 750ml | select private retailers |
| MB | $35.00 | 750ml | select private retailers |
Grape: ChardonnayCSPC: 366948UPC: 049331002222
