This marks the third time in the past four vintage that La Crema has earned our top rating for its flagship Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Maryland native Jennifer Walsh came north from the Russian River to take over the Oregon program from Craig McAllister, who now heads up the La Crema team for Jackson Family Wines. This flashes a bit more new French oak (30%) than the prior vintage, yet the fruit expression from Gran Moraine in the Yamhill-Carlton American Viticultural Area and Zena Crown in the Eola-Amity Hills is simply superb. Perfumy notes of toasted coconut, filbert skins and Indian spices are joined by blueberry with plum. Those lead into flavors of Bing cherry and rich plum, making for a gorgeously fleshy texture of blueberry and dried strawberry. Suggested pairings range from pepper-crusted prime rib, rosemary rack of lamb, sautéed salmon and lentil soup with fresh tarragon to curried mussels and chicken masala.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 14,339 cases
Alcohol: 14.5%
Leave a Reply