07 Jul A sipper for the summer – 2021 La Crema Sauvignon Blanc
With summer upon us, it’s only natural to veer away
from the big, boozy cool-weather reds and gravitate toward
refreshing lower-alcohol whites.
It can be risky to apply big picture thinking to wine.
For every rule, there seems to be a contradiction.
But if there’s one generalization about wine
that consistently holds true, this is it:
Sauvignon Blanc and warm weather are perfect partners.
It’s Wine Thursday! Every Thursday, we highlight
a good wine that sells at a reasonable price and,
perhaps most importantly, is easy for you to find
either at your store, online or both.
This week, we’re featuring a Sauvignon Blanc
from a brand/winery you undoubtedly know.
Where it’s from
La Crema. the large California producer that is owned
by the even larger California producer Kendall-Jackson,
is best known for its omnipresent Chardonnay.
Based in Sonoma County, La Crema also produces
good bang-for-the-buck California Pinot Noir as well as
Pinot from Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Sauvignon Blanc is a recent addition to the La Crema lineup.
What it is
La Crema has built a well-deserved reputation of delivering reasonably-priced
crowd-pleasing wines. The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc follows the formula.
This is a relatively new venture for La Crema. As best as we could determine,
the 2021 is just their 3rd vintage of Sauvignon Blanc.
It didn’t take them long to dial it in.
It’s fermented in oak barrels as well as stainless steel tanks.
The oak provides some nice texture while the influence of the stainless steel
results in a bracing degree of acidity. It’s dry and slightly tangy with
lemon and green apple flavors leading the way.
While you would not want to freeze it, we recommend
giving this some serious time in the fridge. Colder is better,
especially if you’re drinking it in the hot summer weather to come.
Where to buy it
You can find the 2021 La Crema Sauvignon Blanc at Vons for $16.66.
Safeway and Total Wine both have it on the shelf for $16.99.
The price at QFC and Bev Mo is $17.99.
Fred Meyer sells it for $18.99. It’s also at Albertsons for $20.99.
You can order it from Empire Wine for $15.95
Buy Wines Online has it for $16.50
Mission Wine & Spirits’ price is $17.99
Napa Cabs has it for $19.99