Wine and Cheese Exploration

$ 30.00

Learn about the history and fundamentals of wine and cheese pairing while enjoying local artisan cheeses paired to perfection with La Crema wines. To book an appointment call 707-431-9400. $24 for Wine Club Members.

 

Pinot Gris 2012 - $20

2013 was an excellent vintage in Monterey – the long, milder-than-normal weather conditions bringing the fruit to perfect ripeness by harvest time. This bottling includes fruit from our estate vineyards Rancho Tierra and Valley View, as well as select lots from neighboring growers. We ferment this release in stainless steel to preserve the vibrant, fresh character of the Pinot Gris. In the glass, this wine offers a near-perfect balance of acidity and texture, with bright aromas and layered flavors finished off by classic Monterey mineral undertones.

 

Viognier Bennet Valley 2012 - $25

Similar to the gentle handing of our Pinot Noir, the Viognier was hand-picked into small bins in the cold early morning hours. Once at the winery, whole cluster pressing gently removed juice from the skins and seeds, preserving the ripe, lush fruit flavors and aromas.

 

Pinot Noir Los Carneros 2012 - $40

Straddling the Napa/Sonoma County line, the Carneros hills roll up from the shores of the San Pablo Bay. The unique factor here is wind – a relentless cooling force that charges up the rolling hillsides. With this release, our goal is to capture Los Carneros Pinot Noir's velvety texture, ripe cherry and deep, earthy spice. For this vintage, we harvested primarily from one of our favorite Los Carneros estate Pinot Noir blocks – Ahmann – found just two miles from the bay on the Napa side of Los Carneros. Here, the constant cooling influence of wind and fog allow the fruit ample time on the vine to develop full, concentrated flavors and velvety texture. This block is planted to clones 667, Calera, Swan, 2A, Pommard and 777, which provide us with multiple layers of aromatics and complexity – particularly in this excellent growing season.

 

Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - $50

A challenge from vine to glass, Pinot Noir can be a notorious failure - except in tiny, cool-climate pockets of the world where its subtle brilliance is revealed. The coolest and most northern source of our appellation releases, Anderson Valley has proven to be a remarkable region for Pinot. Vineyards are just 10-15 miles from the rugged Mendocino Coast and vines struggle on steep slopes, developing complex, small berries. This fruit is unusually graceful, developing elegant blueberry and bright red cherry flavors, overlaid with delicate tea and layered floral notes.