Past Releases
2005 La Cruz Pinot Gris
This is a rich, Alsatian style Pinot Gris. Classic aromas of white flowers and peaches are
complimented by mineral and fennel notes. Powerful flavors and rich mouthfeel are
beautifully proportioned and followed by a long dry finish.
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"Creamy and rich, in the style of an Alsace Pinot Gris, with a broad palate presence and
long dry finish. Floral aromas and white peach flavors complement an attractive mineral
note in the wine that pairs it well to seafood or grilled fish."
- Ray and Eleanor Heald, 11/30/06
2005 Oro De Plata Chardonnay
In Spanish, Oro De Plata means “gold from silver”. At Keller Estate, the name refers to
our stainless steel fermented Chardonnay, crafted to highlight the flavors of the grape,
yet without the characteristics of oak so often found in California Chardonnays. A
Chardonnay with a Burgundian flair, this wine shares the minerality found in Chablis,
but with brighter, richer characteristics.
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2004 Oro De Plata Chardonnay
A hue of brilliant platinum beckons from the glass, followed by the scent of
Chardonnay flowers in full bloom. Exuberant acidity awakens the palate
introducing lemon and lime zest. The crisp, bright citrus elements gain structure
as they integrate with a complex minerality.
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"90 Points. Juicy and bright with fresh apple and citrus; racy, long and beautifully
balanced with great style and pure flavors." -Anthony Dias Blue, Jan. ‘07
"Refreshingly crisp and flinty, with the emphasis on vivid fruit flavors. It exhibits lively
grapefruit, green pear and spicy floral notes that are deceptively concentrated."
- Wine Spectator, 7/31/06
"Here's a stainless steel-fermented Chard that features nothing but cool-climate varietal
flavor. It's a floral wine, reminiscent of unoaked New ZealandChardonnay,withovertones
of kiwi, lime, nectarine and vanilla, accented by bright acidity." -Wine Enthusiast, 11/27/06
"This wine will please people looking for balance and moderation with its restrained
flavors of citrus, tart apple, oak and mineral." - San Francisco Chronicle, 2/23/07
"It boasts floral aromas with mineral notes and lime zest in a bright, fresh Chardonnay
that provides the true taste of the grape." -Ray and Eleanor Heald, 11/30/06
Full bodied with a concentrated mouth-full of pear and vanilla.
- Sante Magazine, March/April Issue, 2007
2004 La Cruz Chardonnay
The 2004 growing season featured a warm, dry spring, which created the ideal conditions for
early and uniform fruit set with even ripening. A warm July and August resulted in the earliest
harvest we have had here at Keller Estate. Concentrated fruit flavors were achieved through
judicious fruit thinning.
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"90 Points. Serves up a mix of ripe, mature pear, citrus, hazelnut and cedary oak flavors
that fan out on the palate, offering concentration and depth, with a spicy cream and
anise aftertaste." - Wine Spectator, 6/30/06
"90 Points. Take Keller's unoaked Chard, add some well-toasted new French oak, and
you get this rich version. The oak stars, putting out buttered toast, crème brulee and
vanilla spice flavors. Down under all that is a wealth of tropical fruit, peach and green
apple flavors." - Wine Enthusiast, 11/27/06
"Attractive nose of bread crust, butter and citrus. Meduim-bodied palate with good,
refreshing acidity, pear, white peach and mineral flavors, all turning spicy on the finish.
Sante Magazine, March/April Issue ‘07
It provides a complex melange of apple, pear and clove with toasty oak aromas,
followed by flavors that include mineral, butterscotch and roasted nuts."
- Ray and Eleanor Heald, 11/30/06
2004 La Cruz Pinot Gris
Enticing aromas are of apple blossoms, peach and lychee fruit along with a distinctive mineral
character reminiscent of being on a granite slab up in the Sierras right after a summer
thunderstorm. The ripe flavors are of apple, mineral and peach.
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2003 La Cruz Pinot Noir
This elegant Pinot Noir, with its lush texture and long finish, was created in a bit of chaos. Our
new gravity-flow winery was still under construction during the 2003 harvest. Thanks to a
small army of pipe fitters, electricians and workmen, everything functioned when we needed it
to. In our new facility, each clone from each block can be handled separately. By the end of
harvest, we had 20 different lots of Pinot. Only the very best of those lots were chosen for this
bottling.
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2003 La Cruz Syrah
The 2003 growing season started with a very cool and wet spring. Cool weather lasted through
bloom, which caused lighter than normal fruit clusters. In the second week of September a
heat wave hit Sonoma and accelerated ripening. Syrah, by its nature, is a vigorous grower and
likes to set a large crop. In order to obtain the level of concentration and ripeness I want, our
vineyard crew dropped over half of the grape clusters on the ground.
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