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Is La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay oaked?
La Crema's Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a well-structured and generous white wine sourced from select vineyards in Northern California's world-class coastal wine-growing region. Fermented and aged in oak barrels, this California chardonnay is medium bodied with a rich mouthfeel.
Is unoaked Chardonnay buttery?
Winemakers are starting to produce a lot more unoaked Chardonnay. Unoaked means that instead of aging the wine in oak barrels, (which impart a richer, rounder, oaky, vanilla, and sometimes buttery flavor) the wine is fermented or aged in stainless steel (or concrete). This allows the true flavors of the grape to shine.
Is La Crema Chardonnay aged in oak?
We ferment our Chardonnay in oak, and stir the lees (yeast deposits) by hand twice a month to create a rich texture on the palate.
What type of wine is La Crema?
La Crema Winery | Cool-Climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Gris.
How do I know if Chardonnay is unoaked?
When reading tasting notes, look for descriptors such as "crisp," "refreshing" or "vibrant" to suggest unoaked Chardonnays, while oaked wines might be described with "toast" or "vanilla."
Which white wines are unoaked?
Best Unoaked Chardonnay Under 20Toad Hollow Unoaked Chardonnay Francine's Selection. 4.5 out of 5 stars. ... La Vuelta Chardonnay Unoaked. ... A to Z Chardonnay Unoaked. ... Kim Crawford Chardonnay Unoaked. ... Dominican Oaks Chardonnay Unoaked. ... Natura Chardonnay Unoaked. ... River Road Chardonnay Unoaked. ... Luc Pirlet Chardonnay Unoaked.
Is La Crema Chardonnay a dry wine?
Buy La Crema, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, dry, white 0.75L online at a great price | Heinemann Shop.
Is Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay oaked?
Sourced from famously sun-soaked vineyards, this Chardonnay features juicy citrus and apple aromas with subtle oak accents.
What does La Crema Chardonnay taste like?
Aromas of Meyer lemon, NECTARINE and Jasmine are followed by flavors of CRISP GREEN APPLE, tangerine and yellow plum. On the palate, the wine is CONCENTRATED and juicy with a lingering finish. Classics include cracked crab, lobster, shrimp and scallops prepared in a buttery, creamy sauce.
What is La Crema?
Mexican crema is a thickened cream often used to dollop over soups, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and anything that needs a touch of richness. It's creamy and slightly tangy, and falls between American sour cream and French crème fraîche.
What is the meaning of La Crema?
the creamla crema — the cream.
What is butter Chardonnay?
Butter Chardonnay is rich, bold and luscious. Made in the tradition of quality Californian winemaking, the grapes we select are juicy, ripe and bursting with flavor. We cold ferment this easy-to-love Chardonnay to a lush creaminess and age it in our unique blend of oak.
2. From obscure to ubiquitous
In the 1940’s, there wasn’t very much Chardonnay planted in California. A 1941 census showed less than 100 acres statewide. Today, Chardonnay vineyards are planted on more than 100,000 acres.
3. Chardonnay, by order of the Queen!
Chardonnay achieved its reputation for greatness in the Burgundy region of France over 1200 years ago.
4. New World v. Old World
The famous “Judgment of Paris” tasting of 1976—which made California wine an international superstar—included the 1969 Chardonnay vintage of our sister winery, Freemark Abbey.
6. Cool customer
Chardonnay does best in cool, coastal regions, from Monterey up through the Russian River Valley, and all the way up to Willamette Valley in Oregon. Which (not coincidentally) is just where our La Crema grapes are grown.
7. No.1 by a long shot
Today, Chardonnay is the best-selling wine in America, red or white. Americans consume over 840,000 bottles per year.
What does it mean when a chardonnay is buttery?
If you have had a chardonnay before then chances are you had an oaked chardonnay. This is that creamy chardonnay which has unique flavors of vanilla, caramel or, most distinctively butter.
Is unoaked chardonnay buttery?
Unoaked Chardonnay is definitely not buttery. It is left out in steel, concrete or plastic containers and never undergoes the chemical process (malolactic fermentation) which converts the fruity flavors of wine (due to malic acid) into the creamy buttery flavors of dairy (due to lactic acid).
What does unoaked chardonnay taste like?
The grape varietal, the winemaking process, and the terroir all culminate in the unique flavor of every wine. The Chardonnay wines are defined by fruit flavors of citrus, fruitiness, and berries with distinct tasting notes of apple, lemon, and pineapple.
Is oaked or unoaked Chardonnay cheaper?
Sometimes the world of wine is shrouded in a blanket of ambiguity and no absolutes. Quality and price are two wine topics that typically fall under this shroud. Just considering unoaked Chardonnay from Sonoma, California it is possible to debate the question of ‘which is cheaper?’.
Why use oak at all?
We can blame the Romans and we can thank the Romans for the oak wine barrel. The switch to oak was a happy accident. Early in Roman history wine was transported in clay amphora pots. The clay amphorae were easier to shape and had the added benefit of creating airtight pots when done right.
What is a good inexpensive Chardonnay?
The ‘Four Vines Naked Chard Unoaked’ out of Santa Barbara, California is often offered up as a great, low-cost example of an unoaked Chardonnay. This crisp, light-bodied wine has flavors of apple, white peach, and pear with hints of citrus and mineral.
What is the best brand of Chardonnay?
Chardonnay, as a grape, is versatile. In a culinary sense, in some ways, it is like chicken. It can be made really well and very badly, it can be adapted, paired with new and old favorites, and even surprise you. This versatility and Chardonnay’s previous popularity have spread the wine to all corners of the Earth.
Winemaker Notes
On the nose, Meyer lemon, passionfruit, grilled pineapple, and guava. Nectarine, papaya, and crisp lemon-tangerine notes are complimented by touch of spice and complexing minerality on the palate. Monterey’s cool climate allows Chardonnay grapes to spend more time on the vine, creating rich and layered wines.
Critical Acclaim
COMMENTARY: The 2020 La Crema Monterey Chardonnay drinks famously well. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits lovely aromas and flavors of savory spices, ripe apples, and peach skin. Pair it with grilled peach halves in a mix of red leaf lettuce and arugula. (Tasted: January 9, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
La Crema
The winery's original name, La Crema Viñera, means "best of the vine," setting the standard for all the team has done since 1979. For more than 35 years, the family-owned and operated winery has focused exclusively on cool-climate appellations, from its original home in the Russian River Valley, to Monterey and, now, the Willamette Valley.
Monterey Wine
A geographic and climatic paradise for grape vines, Monterey is a part of the greater Central Coast AVA and contains within it five smaller sub-appellations, including Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, San Bernabe, Hames Valley and the famous Santa Lucia Highlands.
Chardonnay
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples.
Four Vines Santa Barbara County Naked Chardonnay 2006
"Temperance, like chastity, is its own punishment," reads the logo of this cheeky Naked Chardonnay producer. Winemaker and owner Chris Tietje, a self-described hedonist, was a Boston chef before going west to man the grape presses of this Paso Robles winery, so he really understands food-friendly offerings.
The Wishing Tree Western Australia Unoaked Chardonnay 2007
Proprietor John Larchet imports only Australian wines, but he also likes to get down under by making his own brands, including The Wishing Tree, which uses grapes from the western part of the continent. This is a supple, yet firm wine with big apple flavors —full, tart, and refreshing.
Alpha Domus Hawke's Bay Unoaked Chardonnay 2006
The Ham family moved from Holland to Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's North Island to grow flowers and fruits. In the 1990s, they added vineyards and winemaking to their repertoire with great results.
Louis Michel & Fils Chablis 2006
Chablis—a wine region of northern Burgundy—is famous for its limestone and clay soils that bring out the best in the Chardonnay grape. Domaine Louis Michel's winemaker, fils Jean-Loup Michel, doesn't like to use oak and is a fanatic about temperature control during a wine's fermentation in stainless-steel tanks.
Mer Soleil "Silver" Santa Lucia Highlands Unoaked Chardonnay 2006
The Wagner family, which also produces Caymus and Conundrum wines, started with grapes from the western hills of Monterey County in California and slowly fermented those grapes in limestone-based cement tanks made in Burgundy, the traditional home of Chardonnay.
Failla Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
An incredible wine that wowed the judges at numerous competitions, Failla Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is our favorite Chardonnay. The wine is aged half and half in oak and half in steel, making it incredibly balanced.
Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay
Though this wine enjoyed 8 months of aging in oak barrels, Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay features plenty of the crisp, clean flavors that are often overshadowed by barrel fermented chardonnays. These grapes enjoy a mild, dry climate that allows flavors to concentrate in the grapes.
Cupcake Chardonnay
Over the past few years, Cupcake Vineyards has gained popularity with casual wine drinkers. Though the cute name may turn off some serious wine drinkers, Cupcake Chardonnay is not a wine to dismiss. On the contrary, this wine has a complex flavor profile with notes of spice, oak, vanilla, cream, and citrus.
La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
In order to craft a wine with the rich oaky notes most Chardonnay drinkers crave, as well as the fresh fruit flavors inherent to the grape, La Crema Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is aged partially in French oak barrels and partially in stainless steel tanks.
Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay
Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay is one of our Best Picks when it comes to Chardonnay for less than $20. A popular wine that's readily available at grocery stores and restaurants, this is nonetheless an excellent wine make in the oaky, buttery style preferred by most New World drinkers.
What are the flavors in Chardonnay?
A Chardonnay is never just one flavor. Usually, you can pick up on a primary flavor (created by the grape) and a secondary flavor (created by the fermentation process).
Things to consider when buying chardonnay
When it comes to buying Chardonnay, you need to bear in mind a whole range of factors.
