This was a lot of fun, and the Calera wines showed so well. Impressive stuff I don’t drink enough of.
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2003 Calera Pinot Noir Reed - USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan (8/11/2009)
14.0% alcohol. Beautiful, pure expression of Pinot here, with a masculine, husky sensibility to the nose. Black cherry fruit jumps out of the glass, with a rich earthiness behind it, supported by minerals and a hint of oak. In the mouth, alive but starting to soften some of its youthful edges. Packed with fruit, but the complexity is what really makes this wine something special. The layers of earth, spice, and fruit tickle your palate. Lively acidity and a long finish makes the most complete wine of the bunch, really just because it’s had more time to integrate. A-/A -
2005 Arcadian Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (8/11/2009)
14.5% alcohol. Light red color. Elegant nose of funk, black cherry, and spice. In the mouth, so classy and fine, with a plush texture but also a linear focus. Fruit with striking complexity. Good acidity. But the balance here is what sells the wine. It is impeccable. Strong finish. A- -
2005 Calera Pinot Noir Reed - USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan (8/11/2009)
14.0% alcohol. All four of the Pinots showed some stem influence, but this was the most overt of it. On the nose, noticeable vanilla from oak, big, lively black cherry fruit, some stems, and forest floor. In the mouth, so smooth and balance. This really epitomized the feminine-laced masculinity of these wines. They were so full of fruit and elegance but had such strong-willed power behind them, they just rolled across the palate, and there was no stopping it. This is very young but delicious, with loads of fruit and the touch of stems. Bright acidity. Long finish showing tannin and a bit of oak. A baby. A- -
2005 Calera Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan (8/11/2009)
14.5% alcohol. A touch riper than the other three Calera Pinots in the lineup tonight. Beautiful nose of ripe cherry and blackberry fruit, with a distinct earth note, a touch of oak, and a subtle mineral edge. In the mouth, texturally the most plush in the lineup but still structured. Fruit comes first here, with cherry and blackberry popping in your mouth, oak-tinged earth, strong acidity, and a long finish that is slightly clipped by tannins. A- -
2006 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan (8/11/2009)
13.5% alcohol. Terrific nose that just kept gaining with air. Black cherry, loads of spice and minerals, earth, and a lingering note of blackberry. In the mouth, explosive fruit bursts across the palate, with the mineral-laden spice cutting a linear swath on your tongue. The life and verve behind this wine is terrific. Long finish. A- -
2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/11/2009)
14.8% alcohol. Opened three hours before serving but not decanted. Just never has quite come together to my taste. It doesn’t have quite the normal level of endearing fruit for this wine or even that the RRV developed. In any case, pleasant to drink. A plush texture, ripe fruit and plenty of it, but slightly hot. B+ -
2006 Lioco Pinot Noir Michaud - USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone (8/11/2009)
14.5% alcohol. This was a real surprise. It seemed like it was a young Oregon Pinot, with a touch of a grapey edge to it ont he nose. Confounding. A real chameleon in the glass because it kept changing so much. Dusty cherry fruit on the palate, with a rich earthiness. Excellent structure and strong acidity. The finish had a touch of tannins. This really opened up beautifully. Tasty. B+/A- -
2007 A.P. Vin Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (8/11/2009)
Served blind. Nose shows a bit of oak and quite youthful, with black cherry and blackberry fruit complemented by minerals, forest floor, and a touch of citrus. This was a wine we were hot on the trail of immediately. The black cherry and blackberry on the palate, with a touch of chocolate, and strong minerality and acidity were very fine. The long finish, tinged by oak, was lovely. And there was no doubting what this wine was. Pegged it blind. A- -
2007 Calera Chardonnay Mount Harlan - USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan (8/11/2009)
15.1% alcohol. Pale yellow color. Rich nose of apple, pear, fig, oak, and minerals. Really developed with some air. In the mouth, quite plush, with an oily texture. Lemon zest, apple, pear, fig, minerals, and good acidity. The oak gives a creamy edge to the flavors. Solid finish. A touch of warmth on the end. B+
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