La Crema 'Saralee Vineyard' Russian River Chardonnay 2020

On the nose delicate notes of LYCHEE, CITRUS BLOSSOM, and toasted hazelnut followed by flavors of GRAVENSTEIN APPLE, Meyer lemon, and baked pear. On the palate it presents bright acidity and a long-refined finish. - JENNIFER WALSH, WINEMAKER At the heart of the Russian River Valley sits a majestic vineyard honoring the late Saralee Kunde, one of the region’s most beloved and respected wine-growing visionaries. Awash with rustic charm, the 200-acre vineyard features a variety of Chardonnay clones on a diverse spectrum of rootstocks as well as eight different soil types – mostly sandy/gravelly, or clay loams. This complex vineyard dotted with ower gardens and oak groves produces truly magical fruit. The fruit was harvested in the cool hours of the morning before being gently sorted at the winery. Whole clusters were placed in the press where they received a gentle squeeze to liberate the free run juice. The resulting juice settled at cold temperatures and was racked the following day to French oak barrels. Primary and secondary fermentation occurred in barrel with lees stirred occasionally for texture development. The finished wine is barrel aged for a minimum of 9 months without racking until final bottling.