La Crema Chardonnay 2014

Careful with the cork, now. Pop. And close your eyes. Warm scents of cherry pie and cocoa. Black tea from nearby cafés in avenues of plum and pomegranate. You're nearby the ocean, soft heat rising from the earth. Hear the wash of the waves. Water breaking gently into foam. Cream. Like the surface of fine coffee. La Crema, as they call it on the Sonoma Coast.

When La Crema was founded in 1979, the Russian River Valley had yet to establish itself as one of California's most important regions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The first few vintages at La Crema were devoted to learning the intricacies of cold climate viticulture and winemaking along with the task of procuring first class vineyards for fruit. In 1993, Jess Jackson bought La Crema and with the help of winemaker Dan Goldfield, elevated the quality of wines and enhanced the winery's reputation as a top producer in California for Burgundian varieties. Over the intervening years, La Crema expanded its collection of vineyards to include some of the most esteemed sites. The winery has explored many different varieties of wine and is known for producing one of the finest Pinot Gris in the state. La Crema's vineyards are all harvested by hand. The winemaking techniques are primarily traditional to ensure that the wines are true to both the variety and the terroir. The Chardonnays are whole cluster pressed and fermented and aged in French oak on the lees with bi-monthly battonage to add texture and complexity. Winemaker Elizabeth Grant-Douglas joined La Crema as an enologist in 2001 and was named Winemaker in 2010. She was promoted to Director of Winemaking in 2013.