1997 Calera Pinot Noir Mélange

Community Tasting Notes (7) Avg Score: 86.8 points

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  4/25/2010 - toeswest Does not like this wine: 80 Points

  I am opening this 1997 Pinot with some trepidation! Through the Vinturi and into the glass ..... and at first the color reminds me of the reddish-brown Sonoma soil. I've spent half an hour trying to figure this one out - but to no avail. I think it's just too old. Not undrinkable, but not worth any more effort. Chalk it up to not using CellarTracker ... I still have another bottle of this. I'll bring it to Brig's summer wine fest and let some other palates figure it out.

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  4/15/2010 - justaguy wrote: 90 Points

  I'm stealing most of PBAIRD's Dec 2004 note, because the descriptors are still so apt.
  
  Medium dark ruby/brick color, beginning to brown. Earthy and barnyardy aromas at first, blow off to medium intensity, earthy currant, cherry and rasberry aromas. Coffee, lush black currant, cherryraspberry flavors that balance well with moderate acid. Lots of soft tannins bracing the finish, slight bitterness at the end. Medium bodied and good intensity with fine complexity and strength. Tannins shorten the otherwise beautiful, still sweet, curantcherryraspberry finish. This wine is in no way on the decline, I opened it at least 5-7 years too soon, If it weren't for the out of balance tannins, my current score would be 92-93. I think I still have one bottle left, thank God.

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  7/12/2007 - philhh wrote: 92 Points

  Who says California Pinots don't age? This was my last bottle of this, purchased upon release directly from Calera. This was positively delicious on release and has involved into a beautiful bottle of wine, especially taking into account it was around $20 and can still be found at that price for a now 10 year old Pinot.Cherry to burnt-orange color, just starting to brown at the rim. The fruit has muted but still has hints of cherry and a touch of blueberry, with loads of earth, coffee, cinnamon and vanilla, maybe even a touch of marzipan. The wine is still balanced and elegant with a long, beautiful finish. While still on the decline, I think it could still last another year or two. I wish I had more. Why Calera doesn't garner more press is beyond me. 92 points. Fantastic!

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  5/28/2007 - PBaird wrote: 89 Points

  Medium cherry color with a browning rim. Very earthy nose, with rich rasberry, cloves, cinnamon, tea notes. Earthiness carries over to the palate, has a firm palate with blueberries, cinnamon, mulberries, minerals-- very burgundian (and I rarely say that about a new world Pinot). Very good balance-- rich fruit with some good acidity and ample tannins. Still drinks like a young-ish wine. Long rasberry/blueberry/mineral finish.

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  4/4/2006 - davidandrose wrote: 83 Points

  Opened bottle, didn't decant, and once it hit room temp, we thought this was bad and opened up our remaining bottle. Given about 90 mins, both bottles became drinkable but certainly weren't very enjoyable. Very thin, highly acidic, little fruit. I recorked a bottle and gave it a try the next day, and it had actually improved a bit more. Some red fruits were discernable, but this is clearly past its prime. At some point I need to return to the store and advise their manager who recommended trying this that it wasn't up to snuff.

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