From their first vintage in 1975, Calera has been known to produce classically styled and long-aging Pinot Noir.  And even as a new muscular style of Pinot Noir has become popular amongst critics, Calera has stayed true to what they've been doing for 34 years.

When Allen Meadows of Burghound recently started reviewing California Pinot Noir, it was only natural that Calera would be one of the first wineries on his list.  While discussing Calera's 2006 vintage in general, Mr. Meadows says, "While Josh Jensen has made any number of great pinots, these are among the best young examples that I have ever tasted."

Here is your chance to round-out your cellar with truly age-worthy wines that will award the patient collector.

In Stock!  Cheers!  Whitney/Kari/Mike ~ 707-255-3500  sales@benchmarkwine.com

Calera Pinot Noir Selleck Vineyard 2006 ~ $66 BH94  Very Limited!
Allen Meadows:  A strikingly elegant, pure and complex nose that is restrained and understated offers floral, red berry, spice and an herbal hint that merges seamlessly into concentrated and rich medium-bodied flavors that possess excellent mid-palate fat and superb length. It's rare to find a 2006 that has both richness and delineation all while retaining the fine balance that great wines have. This should be really impressive in 8 years or so, in fact, it's already impressive but there is more to come. BH94

Calera Pinot Noir Reed Vineyard 2006 ~ $48 BH91
Allen Meadows:  A highly floral and high-toned red pinot fruit nose gives way gracefully to rich, round and naturally sweet flavors that possess good vibrancy and depth on the balanced, intense and lingering finish where the only nit is a hint of backend warmth. Note that if a cool serving temperature is maintained, the warmth is virtually a non-issue. BH91

Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard 2006 ~ $40 BH92
Allen Meadows:  An ultra pure, airy and cool nose of extract of red pinot fruit trimmed in overt floral nuances a hint of vegetal that, like the Ryan, adds depth rather than any sense of greenness. The purity of the nose continues onto the detailed, intense and delicious yet entirely serious medium-bodied flavors that possess fine depth and excellent length. This is an impeccably balanced wine of elegance and understatement that is classically styled. BH92

Calera Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard 2006 ~ $35 BH91
Allen Meadows:  A floral and pure nose that reflects vegetal hints that are more in the character of adding complexity than actual greenness introduces delineated and vibrant middle weight flavors that possess a dusty and moderately structured finish that delivers lovely persistence. This is a classically styled effort of elegance and finesse and has little in common with the high ripeness and ultra rich school of pinot. BH91

 Cheers! Whitney/Kari/Mike, sales@benchmarkwine.com, 707.255.3500