Thanks to PC for bringing this wine to my attention. They had it for $125, but a quick search on WS revealed the winery selling it for $75 with 3 bottle max.
Had the wine over 3 days, and it was very hard to keep my hands off for this long. Amazing nose of roses and berry fruits. Very deep and powerful on the palate. Loved every sip of the wine. So happy I have 2 more bottles. 
I guess you’re a Parker guy? I haven’t clicked with the last few Calera vintages as much as the old days when i loved them, but haven’t had any 07s. Has Jensen caved a bit in styling for earlier drinking? From a prior berserker post:
Just got the latest BH Newsletter. Some Parker favorites not exactly to his liking. (Parker scores in brackets.)
Aubert
2007 Pinot Noir – Reuling Vineyard red 77 (98)
2007 Pinot Noir – UV red 78 (95+)
Calera 2007 Pinot Noir – Jensen Vineyard red 89 (97)
2007 Pinot Noir – Mills Vineyard red 89 (95)
2007 Pinot Noir – Selleck Vineyard red 87 (98)
Kistler
2007 Pinot Noir – Cuvée Catherine – Occidental Station Vineyard red 88 (95-97)
2007 Pinot Noir – Cuvée Elizabeth – Bodega Headlands red 88 (96-98)
Marcassin
2005 Pinot Noir – Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard red 79 (96)
2005 Pinot Noir – Marcassin Estate red 82 (98+)
2005 Pinot Noir – Three Sisters Vineyard red 76 (94)
Too bad SQN wasn’t reviewed. Perhaps saving it for the next issue. Can’t wait!!!
I haven’t had the 07, but Rich, I think you are being a bit unfair, Without quoting the entire review, BH called the 07 Selleck solid, but not sensational. As always, just quoting numbers doesn’t begin to tell the story. He did seem to think this would drink earlier, but I don’t think that is due to any stylistic change.
So that was my post, and I do have a few BH 87 pointers in my basement, but none that I would be happy about paying $75 for. Parker has had a long track record of liking Calera wines, so it is not surprising to see his scores, although I do believe that his palate has moved to liking more concentrated and ripe (over ripe?) wines. And so, I am curious to as to whether Calera has changed its style starting in 2007, or whether this wine was just a reflection of the vintage.
Otto, have you had any prior experience with younger Calera wines before? if so, was this Selleck any different? To get an idea of your palate, what Pinots (or Burgs) are your favorite?
On another point, I am surprised that bottles are still available at the winery. Seems to me that 98 Parker points should have made this a sell-out instantly.
I’m curious to try this one as well. The idea that Josh Jensen would make any stylistic compromises to please Parker or anyone else is almost laughably inconceivable. I tend to think of Josh as something of a Howard Roark figure. But I’m certainly wondering what happened in the vintage to move Parker’s needle so much. He has always liked Calera, but not to the extent of these ratings. His taste in California pinot noir isn’t quite as bad as reputed, though. He’s had his whoppers such as drinking the Marcassin Kool-Aid or comparing Brewer-Clifton to 1990 La Tache, but a 98 Parker rating on Calera doesn’t scare me off as much as, say, a 98 Laube rating would!
IIRC Parker hated Calera’s '06s but BH loved them, now Parker loves their '07s but BH hates them.
To confuse matters even more, Tanzer, who usually alligns more with BH, just gave the '07 Jensen 93 pts and the '07 Selleck 92 pts, outstanding ratings on his scale. ![[head-bang.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/b/b1cd199e4b2b2988b5107c3c9598fd28dc92a776.gif "[head-bang.gif]"){kind=small}
I tend to let my Caleras sleep for many years, but Otto’s note tempts me to open an '07.
My impression is that BH thinks that any California Pinot that drinks well on release won’t age well, and downgrades them accordingly. Maybe this explains his lack of love for Calera’s '07s.
ditto
I don’t drink much Pinot, unless you count the one in Champagne! ![[snort.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/b/bdc3944606213c4dca6c1169cf0a166c8bc4f8c9.gif "snort.gif"){kind=small}
Yeah, the score got the better of me, and had to see what this is all about. I was really impressed by the aromatics on this wine, the smell was worth 98 points.
Tom Selleck knocks one out of the park again! I’m usually not into the celeb owned hobby vineyards, but the 'ol Magnum P.I. is a true magician in the vineyard and has proven himself a rising star in viticulture.
I was just poking a bit of fun on the variance(98 vs 87 is a big variance). I’ve got a handful of Calera’s including Sellecks in my cellar and have been a big Calera fan for a handful of years. I bet somewhere imbetween(like Tanzer) is apropriate in terms of score.
The 06 Selleck received a 94 from BH.
He rated the ;07 Ryan as outstanding, It sounds like the rest of the '07s are a bit too ripe and alcoholic.
Just got my Calera shipment. The Selleck is 14.8% alcohol this year, which is definitely a zone Calera has made balanced wine in, though interestingly the 2004 was only 14.5%. Very curious to try these!
Interesting comments. I know nothing about Calera Pinot but just took delivery on a few 07 Mills and Ryan simply because I loved the 04 Mills in 375ml so much.
Mills is the Calera I try to buy every year. Secret gem in the portfolio.