La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir

Description

La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir is a red wine made with grapes sourced from the Monterey wine-growing region of California. The Monterey American Viticultural Area (AVA) is located in eastern Monterey County. and was established in 1984.

Founded over 30 years ago, La Crema began life at their Russian River Valley estate. Over the years, however, they have specialised in sourcing grapes from California’s cool coastal regions including Russian River Valley, Los Carneros, Anderson Valley, Sonoma Coast and Monterey. To this one can now add their exciting new project in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Head Winemaker, Craig McAllister, employs a combination of traditional Burgundian wine-making techniques and modern Californian style. La Crema Winery specialises in cool climate wines, and Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in particular; however, in recent years other grape varieties have joined the portfolio including Pinot Gris, Marsanne and Roussanne.

The fruit for the La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir is sourced from select vineyards in the heart of the Monterey AVA. Here the daily wind and cooling fog lengthen the growing season and extend hang-time or the grapes. The superb Panorama vineyard is the main source of fruit, with some also coming from the Clark estate vineyard. The soils are mainly free draining sandy loams, and alluvium. The Pinot Noir Clones used are 667, 777, 115, 23, 2A, and 828.

Fruit is harvested at night and delivered to the winery in the cool mornings. After harvest the 100% Pinot Noir Fruit is cold soaked at 48˚F for 3-5 days. This is followed by fermentation in open top tanks with punching down of the cap 3 times per day during active fermentation. Post-fermentation, free run was transferred to tank for one night of settling before racking to new and used 100% French oak barrels, 18% new, 5 months aging in oak.

La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir is certified sustainable. Winemaker is Craig McAllister.