La Chertosa Wins Best Sangiovese and Gold at Monterey Internaitonal Wine Competition

Continuing a run of acclaim, gold medals and 90 plus scores, Sonoma winemaking legend and family patriarch Sam Sebastiani, is pleased to announce the results from the 2016 Monterey International Wine Competition. The 2014 Sonoma Valley Reserve Chardonnay received 92 Points and a Gold Medal, while the 2014 Sonoma Valley Reserve Sangiovese scored 96 Points and Best Sangiovese.

The 2014 Sonoma Valley Reserve Chardonnay ($25) is characterized by the extremely fruity high notes and great complexity in the aromas. The flavors are well mixed and remind one of fresh grapes with soft fruity tones of citrus, melon, and slight pineapple. One of the most fruit-forward vintages in the last several. Only 730 cases produced.

In the nose of the 2014 Sonoma Valley Reserve Sangiovese ($35) there is bright red fruit up front, notes of sour cherry, raspberries, dried floral and cherry tomatoes. On the palate there is more of the sour cherry, thyme cola nut and cedar. Bright acidity with light tannins round out this wine. Only 95 cases produced.

La Chertosa is named for the magnificent 14th century Renaissance monastery in the Tuscan valley of Farneta, Italy where the Sebastiani ancestral roots began. Here Sam’s grandfather Samuele Sebastiani learned from the monks to make wine in the “Old World” style. Samuele came to Sonoma in 1893, and found that Sonoma closely resembled faraway Farneta in three ways; it boasted a mild Mediterranean climate, had the same Mediterranean red soils and was blessed with gently sloping hillsides. He founded Sebastiani Winery in 1904, one of the first wineries in California and employed the time-honored techniques taught him by the Carthusian monks in Farneta, to create in Sonoma, the winemaking style Sam continues in crafting the harmonic flavors in La Chertosa wines.

La Chertosa wines can be purchased at fine wine locations in California, Nebraska and Colorado or by visiting www.lachertosawines.com. La Chertosa will release its 2014 Sonoma Valley Reserve Chardonnay, a 2014 Sonoma Valley Reserve Sangiovese, and the 2014 Amador County Zinfandel shortly. La Chertosa was chosen by Wine Business Monthly a “Hot Brand of 2014” designation.