A Spotlight on Crescere 2018 Releases
We’re thrilled to announce four new 2018 vintage wines have arrived! These Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are the core of who we are, tell an incredible story of the terroir from which they come, and are standouts in our portfolio. Read on as we dive into each of these wines, provide you with quintessential food pairings, perfectly paired books, and even some song choices as you sip!
2018 Proprietary Chardonnay
SONOMA COAST, SONOMA COUNTY
Bright aromas of cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and grilled apples give way to wild mountain thyme with undertones of hazelnut, cinnamon, and nutmeg. On the palate, you find a lovely mouth-coating sensation that carries those flavors through to an underlying earthy note with enough acidity to make you want to return to your glass over and over again.
Food pairing: Coconut Curry Chicken
While this Chardonnay leads with gorgeous fruity aromas of melon and grilled apples, there’s much more beneath the surface. With a hint of turmeric detectable on the palate, our minds turn to curry. The earthy notes of our curry blend are echoed by some of the same notes in the wine, while the bright fruit and refreshing acidity help to both complement and cut through the richness of the coconut present in the dish.
Music Pairings: Sounds that transport you to other places
- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stevie Wonder
- Under Constructions Part II by Timbaland & Magoo
Book Pairing: Books that make you hungry
- The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
- Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
2018 Platt Vineyard Chardonnay
SONOMA COAST, SONOMA COUNTY
Platt Vineyard is considered by many to be the greatest Chardonnay site in California. This wine makes us think of a cold, wet spring drive on the California coast as soon as we dip our nose in the glass. You’re immediately hit with sea air and wildflowers as you take your first whiff,
quickly followed by Anjou pears both fresh and slightly stewed. With your first sip you find the crisp, refreshing taste of the sea and a long, savory finish that makes you want to linger—as you would with your favorite book.
Food pairing: Pan Seared Halibut with Lemon, Basil, and Capers
This Chardonnay reminded us of a cool, rainy spring day. It made us immediately crave something bright and delicious to match its racy backbone, but also something light and refreshing. Something to pull us into spring, just like this wine does. We thought, why not keep it simple but elegant. Halibut married with a bit of fat from high-quality olive oil, the freshness of basil, and the briny deliciousness of capers makes for a lovely pairing.
Music Pairings: Something that makes you feel spring in the air (for rainy or sunny days)
- Mezzanine by Massive Attack
- Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
- Cuz I Love You by Lizzo
- Want One by Rufus Wainwright
Book Pairing: Books that pull at all your emotions
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- Normal People by Sally Rooney
2018 Proprietary Pinot Noir
SONOMA COAST, SONOMA COUNTY
Boysenberry, blueberry, and fresh dates marry with spiced plum, basil, fresh bay leaf, and hibiscus to lead the heady aroma of this wine. On the palate, these flavors are delivered with a bright, silky sensation and you begin to notice undertones of soft cheese rind and freshly cured meat that help to deliver a truly complex and memorable experience.
Food pairing: Lamb Tagine
This Pinot Noir is a truly deep and complex wine exploding with an array of flavors. Fruity and floral while also spicy and earthy, it’s a wine that calls for a dish of equal depth and complexity. The first thing that came to mind when we tasted this was lamb tagine. Lamb’s richer flavors, while not as deep as most other red meats, stand in perfect balance to the weight of this Pinot Noir. The layers of flavor brought on by apricots, ginger, cinnamon, and saffron complement the fruit and spice tones.
Music Pairings: Something that always puts a smile on your face
- Exile on Main Street by The Rolling Stones
- 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul
- Malibu Anderson .Paak
- Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin
Book Pairing: A good mystery with layers of character development
- Still Life by Louise Penny
- The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
- The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
2018 Platt Vineyard Pinot Noir
SONOMA COAST, SONOMA COUNTY
Less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean, Pinot Noir from Platt Vineyard tends to be more Burgundian in character than almost any other site in California. Spring jumps from the glass, giving you a mix of wild berries—mulberry, cranberry, and strawberry—married with blood orange as you first take a whiff. The wine begins to open up as it breathes to show notes of rose petal, tarragon, and fresh oregano, eventually giving way to undertones of fresh leather and flint. It’s a wine that’s immensely enjoyable on its own, but makes you dream of all the fun dishes you can cook alongside it.
Food pairing: Roast Pork tenderloin with sour cherries and wine-soaked mushrooms over wild rice
The fresh fruit and herbs are abundant in the Platt Pinot Noir, along with earthy elements at play underneath, and remind us of all that spring can bring. As we drank, this dish immediately sprang to mind. Pork and Pinot are almost always a match made in heaven, and this is no exception. The key here is the spice rub that accents the herbal tones of the wine while the sour cherries and balsamic highlight the fruit and acidity, while the mushrooms help to elevate the earthy notes.
Music Pairings: Something that makes you feel warm inside
- Parachutes by Coldplay
- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie
- For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
Book Pairing: A book you love to revisit over and over
- 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
There is truly no wrong way to enjoy these new wines. No matter your food, music, book, or even movie preference, our goal is to provide you a wine you can embrace any moment with. Be sure to share how you’re enjoying your Crescere wines with us on Facebook and Instagram–cheers!