Mocha and dark chocolate with big black plums. Full-bodied and supple.
Lots of dark-fruit and tar character on the nose and palate. Full body with silky tannins and a dark-chocolate, berry and mineral undertone. A little more subdued than the 2010 but outstanding. Needs two or three years to soften: Try in 2016.
Mint, dark berry, briar and anise aromas lead to a tightly wound palate of similar character. Vanilla, red raspberry, chocolate and excellent acidity. This is a wine that needs time.
Deep ruby. Pretty aromas of blackberry, blueberry and bitter chocolate; smells riper than the basic cabernet bottling. Then denser and sweeter in the mouth, with the concentration of chewy black fruit flavor to support the wine's powerful tannins. Medicinal but not green or aggressive. An excellent example of Howell Mountain cabernet.
...it has deep, fine blackberry and cherry fruit flavors, and should have a good future. The score reflects the possibilities after 5-7 years of aging.
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate vineyard, planted at 1,800 to 1,850 feet. It has fabulous aromatics of lead pencil shavings, black and blue fruits, forest floor and floral notes. With loads of fruit, but also an elevated level of tannin, this deep purple-colored wine is impressive, but still unevolved and youthful. Give it another 4-5 years of cellaring as well.
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, from the estate vineyards, is showing well. Dense purple, with the telltale mulberry and graphite notes of Howell Mountain, youthful tannins, and a relatively boisterous and exuberant, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, it is still young. This wine (90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot) should hit its prime in another 4-5 years, and drink well for 10-15+ after that.
COMMENTARY: My love for La Crema goes way back—I won't tell you how far—and the 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé just adds to those feelings. TASTING NOTES: This is a lovely rosé with excellent aromatics and flavors. Pair the wine's strawberry and dried earth flavors with a light seafood risotto.
At first, this is all angles, the clean cherry fruit warmed by coffee, burnt at the edges, slightly bitter, sweetened with vanilla. Then air settles the factions and brings the smooth fruit into focus. It takes on a smoky, masculine Carneros style, expressing its power as a big black wine. Drink it now if you like aggressive, muscular wines, or wait it out for a more graceful conclusion.
Deep cherry red. Moderately full-bodied. Highly extracted. Moderately oaked and tannic. Chocolate, toast, ripe blackberry. Deep dark brooding nose leads a seamless and rich palate with some attractive toasted oak flavors through the finish. Overall a firmly structured style.
Dark color. Pretty aromas of cherry, vanilla, tea, meat, mushroom, earth and smoke mingle. Very complex and concentrated. Tiers of ripe, sweet stone fruit with spicy oak notes and a lively acidity. Delicious now.
Pinot Noir World Series
"A blockbuster filled with ripe cherry and strawberry. Balanced and rich with high levels of fruit, acid and tannin. The lush fruit is married well with complementary notes of chocolate, coffee and vanilla. Silky smooth texture carries through to the finish." Cellar selection and best buy.
A big bold red, this is lush and expansive on the considerably concentrated palate, imparting developed flavors of baked strawberry, rhubarb, baking spice and black tea. The oak is integrated yet present.
Earthy and grippy character define this full-bodied wine, a full explosion of big flavor at its core. Cola, cherry and black currant complement in waves of sweet and savory flavor, with a lasting taste of forest floor and tea.
La Crema sources the grapes for this Pinot Noir from the potentially better-suited vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. Compared to their Monterey bottling, the sweetness in this one is replaced by bright, ripe red fruit notes mixed with alluring herbal and leafy flavors. Similar to their Monterey bottling, suave tannins allow you to enjoy it now. For those who think far ahead, it would be an excellent choice for turkey.
What's most notable for such a big production wine is that it was sourced entirely from two estate vineyards rather than assembled from purchased fruit. Supple flavors of berry, plum and baked cherry spread broadly across the palate, with highlights of cocoa and tobacco. The finish is smooth as silk.
This dark ruby colored Pinot Noir from La Crema is very good. It opens with a cherry and pomegranate bouquet with hints of oak. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and savory. The flavor profile is an oak and black raspberry blend with notes of stewed plum, red beet and a dash of black pepper. The finish is dry and it shows very nice length for a Pinot Noir. I would pair this Pinot with duck confit.
This is a wonderful wine, made in large enough quantities to be easily found on store shelves. Smoky, meaty and gamy aromas rise from the glass around perfumed rose. The palate is juicy and velvety, with flavors of berry pie and cinnamon.
A mix of estate and purchased fruit, the 2015 Pinot Noir is a fleshy, rich, impressively textured – and balanced – effort that gives up classic notes of black cherries, forest floor, and scorched earth. It's an impressive, rich, and again, balanced, effort that has loads to love.
Expect a rich, spicy, entry with bright, juicy dark cherry pinot bathed in dried herbs. The palate is silky with bright plummy, floral, raspberry, blackberry fruit and a pinch of cola. There is an attractive, juicy, acidity character within the warm, spicy finish. Made for restaurants and pinot lovers. It is a complex mix of Russian River fruit that is aged in French oak for 11 months - only one third is new. Fog-bound mornings create a cooler climate and more intense flavours accented by hand-picked, hand-sorted berries with 70% whole berries making it to the fermentation tanks. The free run is transferred to tank for one night of decanting before racking to barrel where its sits until blending prior to bottling. The complex clone mix includes 777, Flowers, Pommard, 2A, 667, 828 and 23.
Offers mouthfilling richness, with flavors of cherry tart, plum pudding and berry pie that feature plenty of pastry notes. The plump finish is spicy and creamy.
This is a fine expression of the best elements of Anderson Valley -- cool climate acidity and bright cherry fruit. Fall spice and a touch of stemmy character add interest and lengthen the finish. It would be a solid pairing partner for roasted chicken, turkey and the like.
Deep ruby color; smooth and lush, juicy and savory; ripe black cherry with tangy fruit and lush texture.
Sleek and gracefully built, offering vibrant cherry, green peppercorn and tea flavors that finish with refined tannins. Drink now through 2021.