La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2013: Ruby red color; cherry-gravel nose; strawberry, cherry, cranberry with hint of chocolate on the palate;
suitable earthiness for a California mass market pinot plus the appropriate delicateness. Smooth, medium weight, soft in the mouth, demure tannin, balancing acidity; tasty, delicious. Impressive accomplishment for La Crema to produce more than 200,000 cases of this quality while retaining soul of true pinot noir. La Crema makes a number of vineyard-specific pinot noirs at significantly higher price points; this is their commodity offering; it maintains their reputation for quality. La Crema is family-owned estate in the Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. It specializes in Burgundian-style pinot noir and chardonnay. Owners Laura Jackson-Giron and her sister, Jennifer Jackson, founded the winery in 1979 with commitment to quality. The winery does not allow visitors, focusing on wine making and not tasting room and events, refreshing in the tourist-flooded wine country north of San Francisco. To add to the warm fuzzy: La Crema has major commitment to sustainability—composted pomace (pulp remaining after crushing grapes) returned to the soil, recycled material used in vine trellises, recycled water for irrigation, bird habitat boxes to attract owls, bluebirds, and falcons to nest and patrol the vineyards, introduction of insects to reduce need for pesticides (integrated pest management), focus on energy efficiency.
This is deliciously good wine made by good people with good intentions. $23 