One of the great world producers of Pinot Noir, Calera has a long history in California wine, dating back to the 1970s. In the early 1970s Calera founder Josh Jensen was exploring Europe, and decided to work a harvest at famed winery Romanée-Conti. Josh was inspired to make great Pinot Noir in California and 1974, he purchased land located on steep slopes of Mount Harlan, a 3,278-foot peak in the Gavilan Mountains that divide Monterey and San Benito counties. Josh founded Calera in 1975 and p[anted his three estate vineyards: Jensen, Reed and Selleck. Josh achieved incredible critical acclaim for his Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
A few years back Calera was sold to the Duckhorn wine group as Josh noted that Calera was his “life work.” The winery itself is located in Hollister, and boasts sweeping views of the Diablo Mountain Range. Head winemaker Mike Waller previously worked as assistant winemaker at storied property Chalone, before coming to Calera. Mike has served as head winemaker for more than a decade now. While they may have new winery ownership, the new releases by Mike Waller were gorgeous across the board. The 2016 Calera ‘Central Coast’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is fresh, vibrant and an amazing bargain at $25.00. I adored the 2017 Calera showing seriously good range and a beautiful mouthfeel. All of the single vineyard Pinot Noirs showed a good combination of ripeness and earthy terroir. The 2016 Calera ‘Mills Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 94) which has amazing terroir and good richness with great earthy tones. Learn more about these outstanding new wines at https://www.calerawine.com Here are the great new releases by Calera.
2018 Calera Chardonnay- This Mt. Harlan bottling shows really nice aromatic range with white grapefruit blossom and toasty oak alongside brioche tones and baking spices that are all woven together in the glass. The freshness imparted is seriously good as layers of Meyer lemon cake and nutmeg mingle with wild mushroom and wet stone with a great veil of tension on the palate. Delightful to enjoy now, this outstanding new Chardonnay will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2020-2028- 92
2017 Calera ‘Mills Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Mills Vineyard’ was planted back in 1984 to Calera clone Pinot Noir vines. The nose is highly Burgundian with the smoky, flinty and earthy tones alongside the core of dark fruits and citrus rind accents. Soft, round and generous on the palate, the silky mouthfeel entices. Ripe dark cherry tones are woven together with smoke, blood orange rind, red raspberry, minerals and peat moss on the palate. Complex and delicious, this gorgeous new effort will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2025- 94
2017 Calera ‘Ryan Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Ryan Vineyard’ is the highest elevation site of in the Calera vineyard portfolio and is named after vineyard manager Jim Ryan, as Pinot Noir vines were planted back in 1988. Potpourri and smoky tones are woven together with pomegranate seed, pine needles and ripe red cherry on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is plush with wonderful freshness and verve. Beautifully textured, ripe red currants and Bing cherry mingle with minerals, raspberry coulis and damp earth tones all brilliantly combine on the palate. The long finishes lingers. Fantastic in its youth, this has both the stuffing and bright acidity to cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2017 Calera. ‘Selleck Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The high elevation ‘Selleck Vineyard’ is set at 2,200 feet, as Pinot Noir vines are set on a southwestern facing slope. Sour kirsch cordial, red florals, teaberry and shades of guava and orange rind that all take shape in the glass. The palate is silky and elegant, with a soft mouthfeel. Bright Yakima cherry and Satsuma orange zest flavors combine with minerals, wild mushroom and smoky undertones all brilliantly meld together. This is extremely elegant wine, as the length is simply outstanding. Gorgeous to enjoy in its youth, this has another ten to fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2017 Calera ‘de Villiers Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘de Villiers Vineyard’ is a high elevation site set at more than two thousand feet, planted to Calera selection clone Pinot Noir. On the nose there is dense kirsch tones that combine with sandalwood, orange zest and exotic spices that mingle in the glass. The palate has great depth and concentration with a bright beam of salinity that runs through the core of pretty red fruits, rose water and citrus rind accents. The freshness and acidity here is outstanding. Seriously good in its youth, the beautiful ‘de Villiers Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another decade. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2017 Calera ‘Reed Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- One of the great sites high atop Mt. Harlan, the ‘Reed Vineyard’ is planted to Calera clone Pinot Noir. Right out of the gate a whiff of salted volcanic earth entices, as layers of forest floor, wild blackberry and baking spices all sing in unison on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured as the bright red fruits, earthy tones and citrus rind accents are all marvelously melding together. Fresh and vibrant, yet showing a good degree of weight, the outstanding 2017 ‘Reed Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2017 Calera ‘Jensen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Named after California Pinot Noir icon, Josh Jensen, this new 2017 wine shows aromatics of cherry cola and saline drenched raspberries with suggestions of white truffle shavings that all meld together in the glass. The palate is soft and inviting, as delicate red fruits dance with suggestions of baking spices, blood orange zest, Umami and rose water that was sourced from a volcanic site. The bright sense of minerality and seamless texture really works here. Outstanding to savor in its youth, the 2017 ‘Jensen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will cellar well for a decade or more to come. Drink 2020-2035- 94