Calera - Fortieth Anniversary Vintage Pinot Noir 2015
Pairing Suggestions
Calera - Fortieth Anniversary Vintage Pinot Noir 2015 (89 TSW)
Author: Goswijn Simons
My first Pinot Noir from this region and this one absolutely didn’t dissapoint me.
In the glass a brick red color.
On the medium+ notes lovely aromas of plums, cherries and strawberries with well integrated hints of leather, cinnamon and nutmeg.
On the palate dry, medium+ bodied with medium+ acidity and soft tannins showing flavours of tart cherry, smoke, pepper and mint. Nice and long finish.
Instead of walking the recommended path, winemaker Josh Jensen chose to pioneer American Pinot Noir. With the experience he gained in Bordeaux, in 1971 he went in California to find the most suitable place to grow unique wines. He found this place in 1974 at about 160 kilometers from San Francisco and 60 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard is 2200 feet above sea level making it one of the highest and coolest vineyards in California.
In 1975 Josh first planted 24 hectares of Pinot Noir divided over three different plots. As tradition is in Bordeaux, he called each plot different to emphasize that each plot could produce a different wine. The original vineyards are the Selleck Vineyard, the Reed Vineyard and the Jensen Vineyard. These vineyards were harvested for the first time in 1978.
In 1982, Josh bought 300 hectares of land that bordered on the three vineyards he had at the time. On this vineyard he planted 2 hectares of Viognier, making him one of the first winemakers in California with such a diversity of grapes.
Mabye you already heard that Napa Valley–based Merlot specialist Duckhorn Wine Company has purchased Calera, from founder Josh Jensen. The deal includes the winery, its tasting room and 85 acres of estate vineyards planted in the Mount Harlan appellation.
As part of the deal Jensen will join Duckhorn’s board of directors and will consult for Calera for the next four years.
For sale in NL @wexxswijnen