1988 Calera Pinot Noir Reed Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 93 points

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  1/25/2012 - sawira wrote: 93 Points

  Mature, mildly bricking, burgundy red center, with beginning of ambering rim - surprisingly - as the last bottle I had of this last year was quite mature. Slightly warm, very mature nose of cobblered cherries fills the room on opening - somewhat varnishy. Initially a dry red-fruited attack, great acid and elegant red fruits on the lingering finish. This becomes a bit shrill after an hour and a half, but still holds serious fruit and great mature depth. Somewhat better than previously (perfect cork) in its depth and persistence. A preview of cellared high quality Cali pinots to come (Rhys!), and superb in its own right. 5 years past peak, but still outstanding in its balance of depth, style and place in the pantheon of new world pinot pioneers. Thank you (again!) Josh! A memorable experience.

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  9/18/2010 - sawira wrote: 93 Points

  Beautiful, salmon ruby, with significant orange at rim. At first, a strong perfume of figs, prunes, raisins. This gives way in 20 minutes to a more pomegranite, currant, bright red fruit profile. One taster said "grapefruit" as a way of indicating the lift, brightness and strong acidic component that began to emerge. This acid eventually showed itself to be part of what held the wine together these 22 years. Finally, a strong, bright, cool cherry shows itself. Not the overripe cola style of the last 20 years in Cal pinot, but a reserved, feminine, graceful, and even etheric, late-blooming gem. On the palate: bright red fruits, cinnamon, strong acidity, resolved tannins, long finish and beautiful balance. Burgundian. It starts cracking up, with the acidity poking through, at the 2 hour mark. Not great, but very interesting. Present day winemakers take note - at 22 years, this is going strong. Lean perhaps, a graceful matriarch, a little hobbled, but full of charm, style, and above all intelligence. A more substantive conversation than many a pinot has articulated recently. Very stimulating for six of us over 2+ hours. 93 points quality, 95 points personal delight. We all agreed this had enough life to try in five years, so hold my last bottle until then - September 2015, on the porch.

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