Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir 2016 Wine Review

Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir 2016

Central Coast, California, United States

Community Score:93/100

Community Reviews: 1

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Price: $48.95

Drink: 2018-2024

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Calera

Agent: Vinexx

Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
933044
$48.95
Check Stock

BCLDB
263400
$35.96
Check Stock

SAQ
898320
Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Brent Gushowaty rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Pale with ruby rim, the nose contains bright cranberry/strawberry notes ingrained with mineral notes associated with limestone and a well balanced acidity.

On the palate it is lighter than expected but there is also boysenberry fruit as well as red fruit notes. The waft of limestone minerality blowing through the fruit here is very distinct and contributes a savoury old world element to the balanced flavours here. B to B+ ~93

There is a story in every glass of wine but as regards North American pinot noir this one contains a particularly interesting and historical tale. The presence of that zephyr of lifted, limestone begotten, minerality noted above was, it turns out, achieved through great pioneering effort many years aso by the founder of Calera, the industry legend Josh Jensen. In 1975 Jensen purchased land on Mt. Harlan in the remote Gavilan Mountains of the central coast. In pursuit of becoming a winemaker, he worked on several vintages in the Cote D'Or and through that experience became convinced that the secret of great Burgundy was to plant on soils rich in limestone. It turns out there is not that much of this type of plantable soil in California (or Oregon or British Columbia for that matter) but by studying soil maps he discovered that Harlan Mountain had what he believed to be the right stuff. His pursuit of a stellar pinot noir in that region (or any other) of California at a time when no one believed it was possible, was eventually realized after much frustration and hardship. But in the end Jensen became the winemaker who demonstrated decisively that world class pinot noir could be produced in California.

The wine saw 11 months in barrel, 100% French oak with 10% of it new and 90% neutral.

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Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir 2016 Wine Review

Pricing & Stock Information