2014 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

I have been critical of Californian Pinot Noir. I still taste it and I’m trying to get it. But compared to Burgundy, Niagara or Oregon it just doesn’t taste quite right. That being said there is definitely a fan club for Cali Pinot. The fruit is generally very ripe and jammy and it leans more towards medium-full bodied if I need to describe it in a nutshell. That being said when I had a chance to taste the La Crema Pinot Noir my eyebrow was raised.

2014 La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Nor – ****+ – It would be a Canadian making wine in California that has me raising my eyebrow at the wine in my glass. Elizabeth Grant-Douglas is the wine maker at La Crema and is originally from Niagara Falls. This wine is strikes a perfect balance between bold California Pinot and elegant old world style. The nose is vibrant and concentrated with Ripe Cherry and Baking Spice. The nose is interesting because it climbs out of the glass the way Californian Pinot does but at the same time the fruit is ripe without being overcooked. The flavours of this wine are exactly what you found on the nose concentrated Cherry, Raspberry with Baking spice notes on the finish. But everything is perfectly balanced and focused the fruit is very ripe right to the line of where it might start to be cooked … without being cooked. If more Californian Pinot Noir came in this style I would quickly become a fan. For now I will be lining up to grab another bottle of La Crema.

Currently the 2013 La Crema is currently available through Vintages (#716435 – $31.95 – ****+)