1997 Calera Pinot Noir, Reed Vineyard - Typical Calera nose of dark red fruit, earth and Asian spice box. Wine is quite youthful and deep. Impeccably balanced. Nice note of black tea on the palate.
1994 Calera Pinot Noir, Mills Vineyard - Blah, blah, blah. Another excellent Calera pinot. ![[worship.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/9/99a8907a1d5b3c023582052741dc72dc9823c044.gif "worship"){kind=small}
This had an “older” feel, the palate was more mature. But the balance and depth were still there. If I had to say “drink up” to any of these three, this is the one. It will last longer, but feels fully developed.
1996 Calera Pinot Noir, Mills Vineyard - This was a baby next to the '94. Nose and palate were much more youthful. Flavors were deep and rich. I’d probably give these a little more time, but it certainly was enjoyable now.
2002 Page Wine Cellars, “The Stash” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - Beautiful example of '02 Napa cab. Fully integrated, it is a full-flavored, rich but balanced cab. Mouthfeel is extremely velvety.
2005 Saxum, James Berry Vineyard (70% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache) - Powerhouse wine. Full-throttle hedonism in a bottle. Is it a cocktail wine or a food wine? Sort of right on the cusp. Worked pretty well with some grilled PA Dutch brats and fresh corn. Certainly not subtle, but a fun wine in the right setting. I don’t know how to judge this style’s aging potential, but I’d drink up as it seems to be in a good place at the moment.