La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2017
La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2017 is a 750mL white wine from California's Sonoma Coast — 100% Chardonnay, barrel-fermented in French oak and aged about 8 months with 18% new French oak (the cellar figures both research passes agree on); one pass's spec sheet names the Saralee's, Russian River (Santa Rosa) and Durell vineyards and a 2–29 September 2017 harvest. Published ABV figures for the 2017 conflict — 13.9% on that spec-sheet account, 13.5% in VinePair's 2017 record and consistent listings — so the copy claims no single figure; the bottle's label carries the exact number — the cool-climate, oak-restrained style La Crema has defined since 1979. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: In conflict between sources — 13.9% (spec-sheet account) vs 13.5% (VinePair 2017 record/listings); label check required
- Size: 750mL
- Vintage: 2017
- Appellation: Sonoma Coast, California
- Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
- Vineyards: Saralee's, Russian River (Santa Rosa), Durell
- Winemaking: French-oak barrel fermented; ~8 months aging, 18% new French oak
- Score: 90 points — Wine Advocate (2017 Sonoma Coast, via Wine.com)
- Producer: La Crema (Jackson Family Wines), est. 1979
Cool-Climate Chardonnay from a 1979 Pioneer
La Crema began in 1979 as La Crema Vinera, one of the first California wineries to bet on cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay when the state's fashion ran warm. The Sonoma Coast bottling is that founding idea in a glass: ocean-cooled vineyards, fruit picked for freshness, and a cellar regime — all barrel-fermented but with under a fifth new oak — that frames rather than buries the fruit. Note this is the Sonoma Coast wine, not La Crema's separate Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Browse the winery via the La Crema Winery vendor page or the white wine collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Meyer lemon and Gala apple (winemaker notes). Palate: White stone fruit, yellow plum and honeydew. Finish: Fresh and vibrant.
How to Enjoy
Serve chilled. Sonoma Coast Chardonnay's freshness and light oak suit seared scallops, grilled fish, roast chicken and creamy risotto.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABV of the 2017 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay? Sources conflict: one research pass cites a Jackson Family spec sheet at 13.9%, while VinePair's 2017 record and consistent retail listings give 13.5%. The bottle's label is the arbiter. (A 14.1% figure sometimes listed belongs to La Crema's separate Russian River Valley 2017.)
How was it made? Barrel-fermented in French oak and aged about 8 months with 18% new oak — the figures both research passes agree on; one pass's spec sheet names Saralee's, Russian River and Durell vineyard fruit harvested in September 2017.
When was La Crema founded? In 1979, as La Crema Vinera — a pioneer of cool-climate California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, now part of Jackson Family Wines.
Cool-coast Chardonnay, classically made — get La Crema Sonoma Coast 2017 online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.