Not raining here but in the key I enjoy this wine is singing. Medium- aged (some raisin here) fruit, smoke and savory qualities in this btl that I purchased on initial release. I always looked to Calera entry levels as a pretty sure thing for good QPR and this makes the grade. Nicely spicy on the med+ long tasty finish. My last bottle. 🙁
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty, clear ruby color. Flowery red cherries and eucalyptus on a delightful nose. Good balance of luscious fruit and acids on the palate. Still drinking well, but time to drink up. Good QPR at $21.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with the usual cedar plank salmon. $20 pinot and farm raised Costco salmon; you couldn't tell the difference between this and a $50 pinot and wild fresh king salmon. You don't need Whole Foods and single vineyards to have a great evening these days. Ain't America great!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light and beautiful in the glass, and light and contemplative on the palate. Lovely aroma. Cherry flavors with some interesting (again, light) tannic structure behind it. A lovely Pinot at a fine QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with notes from 8 months earlier. This should re-calibrate pinot pricing. When you can get this for around $20, why are there so many mediocre $40 bottles? Nice, light fruit flavors with balance that makes it a pleasure to slurp in your mouth for a long time. No reason to wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an amazing Pinot value, especially at $20. Would be a great value at $30 or even $40. Round, light, but lots of flavor and long finish, with no high-acid lip puckering that people seem to love. Drank while preparing and eating salmon and went well either way. Highly recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light to medium bodied, well made entry level pinot noir. Great value. Medium ruby, lots of cherry on the nose. Fresh, bright, and light bodied. Easy drinking. Good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark translucent ruby. The nose is a bit more alcoholic than I remember it initially. My initial reaction is that this was better a year or two ago. It is still fresh and young with cherry, earthy forest floor and pine needles. Nice entry level pinot but not particularly distinguished. Still a decent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated prior to first glass which brought out a slight bitterness. Following non aerated glasses were better. Seems to be at the end of its shelf life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Doftkompott av smultron, bokna jordgubbar och lite hallon. Mycket läskande med hög klunkability. Mer kryddighet och läderdofter allt eftersom. Perfekt till anka med pommes duchesse och plommon-/ingefärasås.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impressive: the nose was so different than the taste, but in this case this was a good thing. The nose was definitely on the lighter side (my guess was cherries and sweeter fruits), while I guessed that the taste was on the cola-side with a very sweet strawberry. Need to get my paws on more of these!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Have had over a case now of these the last couple years, continuing to evolve and age well, especially for the great value buy it was. Latest one was a bit jumpy with the alcohol right out of the bottle, but was great after an hour. Darker cherries, a little cola and some earth all there. Seems like a few years are still left in these and will be holding the last ones to see what happens.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complex, charming, pure pleasure. Held its own against a Sea Smoke Southing at more than double the price. Served with roasted lamb, quinoa salad, roasted fennel. My last voluptuous bottle, unfortunately....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas of cherry, earth, strawberry, cola and dried herb. Black cherry, toasted oak, spice and fine, smooth tannins lead to a medium to long finish. Medium bodied with good balance. Drinking well. Paired with maple dijon chicken.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very surprised in the development of this wine. While fruit forward from the beginning and possibly a bit too simple, this wine has really developed into something quite nice. It has developed a nose of black cherry, earthiness, flint and funk. On the palate there is still that dark cherry core, but there is much more complexity and background structure. A pretty decent finish. Day 2 this wine is still going strong with good acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. I really keep going back and forth on this wine. I find the nose rather appealing, offering a combination or damp and dry forest floor, cherry, dried berry, dried herbs, and fruit cake. The palate on the other hand lacks the complete follow through. There is sour cherry, currants, prominent spices, oak, and some metallic minerality. At times I find this a bit sharp on the mid palate and finish. The tannins are medium and the finish is medium as well. Certainly a good every day drinker, bordering on that 90pt threshold but falling a tad short.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I just got a small pour of this on day 2. It was pretty comparable to the bottle from 5/25/13. Shows the earth, berry, cranberry, tart fruit, a little alcohol. My wife didn't think it was at 90 the first night, and liked it more day 2 as well. I don't think this will get much better though. 89+ to 90pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It tastes like Strawberry, and Cherry. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark transparent color. Fresh aromas of cherries and raspberries, some spices to that. Round body due to the high alcohol level, but no heat. Overall a good balance in the wine. Drinks very well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red color. PNP. drank glasses on consecutive nights. This was considerably better the second day; far more evolved and integrated. The nose was always very nice showing earth, berry, cranberry, sweet. The palate started off a bit greenish with alcohol and oak overwhelming the fruit; however on day 2 this had all settled down nicely and the berry fruit, spice, and earth emerged nicely with a clean medium finish. Fairly light bodied, ripe, but not overt. A nice turnaround. 90+ pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beginning to enter the secondary phase. Red fruits on the nose. Palate of red fruits with tea and developing hints of darker flavors with hints of savory and spice. It gains density with air and cellar age. A bit rustic. Moderate finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had this wine about a year ago and remember it being much better. It's a perfectly good multi-vineyard California Pinot, with nice aromatics and pretty lush red fruits; however the finish is a little clunky and actually quite bitter (from this single bottle at least). I like the glass closure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good right out of the bottle. I saw the bottle variation notes from others. This was fine. Round and delicious but not too deep or complex. Ready to go. The glass cork, if you can call it that, is a little odd though. Be careful.
Ended up opening two bottles last night. The first was somewhat flat, like the bottle I drank last month. Dark red fruit, and a bit one-dimensional; not bad, but not as good as I remembered from six months ago.
The second bottle was much better! Bright red fruit popping out the glass, a little more spice on the tongue. Don't know whether the unusual glass stoppers are losing effectiveness quickly, or if I just got some bad bottles. Will have to pay attention to the rest of them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Almost an old-world style; bright cherry and slightly sour without being harsh or acidic, good dark fruits, spices and hint of vanilla. Been a while since I had one of these, not sure it's quite how I remember. I'll have to try another, maybe the glass stoppers don't keep the wine as well as cork?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served with prime rib for Christmas Eve dinner. Family enjoyed thoroughly. Will be taking a few more bottles for Christmas dinner. This wine will only get better with another year or so in cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Nose of cherry, strawberry, toasted oak, and vanilla. Cherry and soft, fine tannins lead to a medium to long finish. Medium bodied and well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose 91, taste 88, finish 86..and I don't see much improvement coming. Not real good for all the press this Pinot has received. And not as good as the last one, it might be in a funny place right now??
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great nose, hints at whats next. Light ruby color with cherry and cranberry fruit with an outstanding blend of secondary characteristics including mineral and tea. This is what I look for in CA Pinot - smooth, complex and not overdone. Great with food and enjoyable to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium red color. Drank 1+ glass over an hour. This had been open for a couple hours when I had it. The nose is open and fresh, with bright red fruits, red raspberry, cherry, florals, complex spice notes. the palate is vibrant, flavors dance on the palate, great purity of fruit, red berries and cherries, medium-light body. this comes off delicate but yet has amazing depth. Long penetrating finish. Drank this again on day 2 and am even more impressed. This definitely needs some air to evolve fully. I am thoroughly impressed by this and what a steal it is. Nummy 92+ to 93pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Traveling and looking for a decent meal in a foreign town and was hopeful when I saw the Calera on the wine list. A decent price for an old school standby. And this wine didn't disappoint. Very forward acids with slight carbonic fizz (?). Offset by a bit over the top round fruit. Not complex. But in the long run a satisfying (guilty?) pleasure on the road and far from the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely Central Coast Pinot, all the typicity you would expect - Dark, medium/full bodied with a nose of cherry, cranberry, cinnamon spice, nutmeg, cola and vanilla, well structured and balanced, typical of this region, sweet, sour on the palate with excellent length, very tasty! (90 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing bouquet of wild strawberries and spice persisting into the first taste, when the earth and roasted meat tones join the party. Lively acids, actually a bit of carbonic spritz (a fault but who cares) and soft tannins. Yummy wine probably at its peak. Weird glass stopper I've never seen before. Anyone who tries putting his corkscrew through the capsule has a mess on his hands.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Difficult to put the glass down with this one. Excellent varietal character. Rich spicy cherry, hint of blueberry, good acidity, and a little earthiness. Only thing I didn't like was the glass stopper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose was highly expressive with a bouquet that showed sweet cherries, pine nettles and dark soil notes. On the palate it was silky smooth yet juicy, with pure dark cherry fruit, hints of herbs, and a crack of pepper. The finish followed suit, as it’s red fruit and earthy profile slowly melted away from the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Where'd the fruit go? Gone were the bright strawberries - now replaced with dusty sour cherry and aroma/palate of manure. Not what my past bottles were like - how disappointing!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Juicy and well-balanced; pretty transparent ruby color; lovely nose of cherries, raspberries, provencal herbs and dark forest floor; nice acidity, bright juicy red cherry and berry flavors, some herbs in the background (oregano? rosemary?), and a touch of vanilla; lovely firm, well-integrated tannins for balance, which grow through the tangy, fruity finish. Delicious and approachable, and a wonderful qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has wonderful fresh strawberry and bing cherry fruit with a hint of clove and ceder. I absolutely love the glass stopper held in place by the top foil. The closure makes me want to give this wine a higher score! (91)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an extremely nice lighter bodied Pinot that I enjoy going to when I am looking for a nice red to drink with a salad or just when I am sitting outside. Very smooth and enjoyable bottle of Pinot that really isn't made to be complex. Drink now to 2015
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great QPR. Everyone enjoyed this wine. Definitely delicious. A slightly burgundian style due to some musty aromas and decent acidity but unmistakable ripe Cali fruit and lacked the distinction of terroir you get from a Burgundy. Grapes are picked from several different vineyards and thus the fruit is very ripe, but not overripe. Well done!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with Vinturi and a one hour decant. Aromas of tart cherry, strawberry, spice, vanilla, and oak. Cherry with mild tannins on the mid-palate lead to a medium-to-long finish. Medium bodied with good acidity. A solid Pinot that paired well with pork chops in honey mustard sauce.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After a few minutes in the glass, the aromas were really fruity and nice. Cherry cola on the palate with a slightly green finish. Wait 6 months before opening another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slowly gaining an appreciation for this pinot. Totally NOT worth the $30 price that I've seen elsewhere, but for the $18 I've paid for this one, I'm coming around! Only one bottle left, though ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 1.5 hours, consumed over 1 hour. Modest nose of sour cherry and earth. Similar on the palate. Integrated . Balanced toward acid. Light tannin and medium short finish. Paired well with spicy orange chicken and daily vegetables stir fried. Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice rich garnet dust color. Distinctive nose of rhubarb, which I recall from past vintages. Smooth palate echoes with sweet rhubarb pie and juniper. Balanced. I suspect this is a Pinot you could age. Well made, but something about the flavor profile does not appeal to me (stems?). YMMV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright ruby red in color. A lovely nose that is decidedly burgundian reveals Vosne spice, wet leaves, ripe red cherries, cranberries and flowers. A medium bodied palate follows through with silky and perfectly ripe red berry fruit on a spicy and flowery note on the finish. Antonio was perfect in his rating on this wine. This is a great value for CA pinot noir. From the nose, it seems that the 2009 has seen whole cluster fermentation, am I correct? The glass top wine closure also caught me by surprise, any thoughts behind this, i.e.; why use this closure vs. a traditional screw top? Thanks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of spiced cherries and oregano. Highly concentrated berry and rose petal flavors, just the right acidity, and the alcohol (14.3%) is well integrated and not at all distracting. A wonderful bottle of wine that will become one of my regulars.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As expected from Calera, an excellent value pinot! Nice nose, cherries and vanilla. Fairly polished tannins and ready to drink now. Cherries, cedary almost with hints of black tea, with a moderate finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice, lively California Pinot that has an old world note of barnyard funk that I love. The strong acidic nature of this wind cut thru a rich chicken dish but it would do well on its own. I find the liveliness reminds me of a nice Beaujolais.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this wine a second time at Bistro Montage. Tasted even better than first bottle. Decanted for 2 hours. Excellent $24 pinot. Had another bottle in June of 2014, decanted an hour or so and still great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very little bit of earth and funk on the nose, but not much else. Hints of strawberry and bubble gum on palate. Decent finish. Not bad. Nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very bold version of Pinor Noir. Really intense, but still balanced and elegante. Extremely good value. If I could, I would by loads more. Very well made american wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Before, I might have complained that there wasn't enough earth, because it was "just jazzy strawberries and mint". But this one, I had right after drinking an Orin Swift the Prisoner, so it brought out a lot of the earthier elements of the wine. I'll want to keep on trying this in the future to see if I can get more of a balance of the fruits and non-fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about an hour. Light to medium ruby color. Raspberry, baking spices, dried herbs, earthy underbrush, and a bit of vanilla and a hint of an herbal element on the open but delicate nose. Medium body at most with soft, ripe tannins and tart acidity. Tart berries, herbs and spices on the palate with earthy elements coming in and a late herbal note. Decent length on the finish that shows more savory than fruity. The herbal note again comes in a pit too hard at the end. Very nice $20 Californian Pinot, that will be really nice if the herbal note incorporates a bit more. Very tasty. The wine is closed with a glass stopper, which I really like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice pinot. Fruity beautiful color. We had this after dinner and decide this needs food to show itself. After half hour it showed good structure and started to last on the finish. This probably needs some age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I drank the remainder of a bottle opened the day before - right after drinking a 2006 Mount Eden pinot. This was a really unfair thing to do as in comparison to the Mount Eden, the Calera was clumsy, very herbal and without any polish or elegance. Drinkable but bordering on being unpleasant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Totally clean - there's nothing wrong here. This is a great example of what a very good $20 California Pinot Noir should be. Ample fruit, restraint, herbs. Pretty. Enjoyable. Nice stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted over an hour. Nose of strawberry and mint. Initial strawberry and alcohol bite dissipates within seconds on the palate, and refreshing red fruits, spearmint and spice keep dancing throughout the finish. Not an over-the-top pinot, but not necessarily elegant, either. Rather, it's flirtacious and inviting - quite an easy drinker - not something so complex as to warrant extensive pontification. The mouthfeel had a medium weight with an almost-carbonated feel. At $19, it's a few bucks higher than what I'd expect to pay - but if it was $14-15, I'd stock up for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Overall, rather unremarkable. Flavors and aromas of cherry with a hint of earth and oak. Not much depth or complexity, rather soft and lacking much in the way of structure or grip. Nothing really wrong, but also nothing above average.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby in the glass. Fruit, earth, wood, with a bit of funk on the nose. In the mouth: Nice flavor profile of red fruit, wood, spice, cola. Big mineral quality, slightly spritzy mouthfeel, high alcohol, low acidity. Wine improved on day 2, with things a bit more settled down and better integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good balanced pinot but lacking complexity for my taste. Better after a couple hours in the decanter but still just not able to rise above the basic cherry cola notes. Had a glass stopper instead of a cork seal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A well-made pinot whose light body comes off as restraint. A charming casual quaffer with some complexity and sophistication. Perfect for a cocktail party wine, but could also see duty with mid-week salmon or roasted chicken. Will buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Third wine of the evening--we had lots of help. This is a nice enough wine, but not a wowser. Some cherry cola, leafy aromas, seemed more simple than last time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a a wonderfully expressive Pinot for the money. I opened and let sit for about 30-40 minutes after I got an burst of heat upon popping and pouring. This burnt off and lead to a very expressing ripe strawberry nose which continued from the beginning to end of each drink. This is a light Pinot that I feel could easily be drank relaxing with friends or as compliment to a nice meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
To me the color appears more brick than cherry as some have described. Thin color - light body. Immediate impression of red cherry to the nose with a hint of earthy undertone. Up front fruit, definitely cherry, with pepper. Medium to short finish. Not flat, but without much depth or complexity. Low soft tanin. low acidity. Not a "special occasion" wine, but an enjoyable wine for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Day 1 - expressive nose of ripe red fruits, raspberries and strawberries plus some earthiness. On the palate, the ripe strawberries, earthy wood pine notes and cherries. Love the overall high profile fruit without being a fruit bomb. Offset against good acidity.
Day 2 - nose and palate died down. White pepper, more pronounced alcohol heat with little of that really fun strawberry.
Much preferred this wine on day 1. If it wasn't for the diminished showing on day 2, I would have given this 90 points. I knock it down a point as a result.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very rich flavors of strawberry, rasberry, and spice. Kind of burgundian or williamette valley. However, this wine suffers from an alcoholic profile and nose that never blows off. Even after a second day. A great deal at 20 bucks, but the alcohol prevents a higher score. I bought several of these and am going to see if a year or two in the cellar doesn't tame these down a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened to celebrate the end of a fun ski trip with the family. Medium cherry color with lightening rim. Fantastic nose--- good intensity, all red fruits, cherry liquor, earth, and spice. Palate mostly matches what the nose portends... this is an earthy, expressive Pinot, red cherries and strawberries balanced with earthiness/garrigue. Would be a dead ringer for a solid Burgundy, except it lacks the acidic profile and structure. Ultimately a fairly soft wine, just enough acid to be balanced, certainly ready to drink. Very enjoyable. Very good QPR at $20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great aromatics with red cherry, sweet oak and some spiciness. Palate continued red and blue fruit elements with continued presence of spice. Gained additional weight in the glass after opening and offers good texture and mouthfeel. Nice berries with additional evolution- this one seems to integrate in the glass given a bit of time. Nice value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wide open nose that makes us think of Fritz Becker on an exchange trip to make wine in California. Red cherries and blood oranges, strawberries and bergamotte. Anise, mint and a forest clearing in spring with herbs and flowers. Intense, immediate, pastille-fruity taste with orange acidity and a creamy mouthfeel. Quite cool aroma profile, with just a little kick of spicy alcohol in the finish (14,3%). Great pinosity, and lots of pleasure to be had. Just watch the temperature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Ruby color and aromas of cherry, strawberry with a dusty element. It's balanced with a medium body. Bright texture with a medium finish - Red fruit is very prominent but is combined very well with the acidity. This is drinking really well now but another year or two won't hurt it. Really a cross between a burgundy and a new world Pinot noir. Overall a nice wine especially for the price, highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow, this wine really nails it for the price. Ample, accessible ripe strawberry and cherry fruit w just enough acidity. Not a blockbuster, nor an ager, but captures that sweet Cali Pinot fruit for about as good a price as you'll ever see.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I expected a lot more from this based on the previous ratings - too light and bland for a pinot noir - just not a lot there. Not much more to say, other than slight disappointment on something I was expecting more from.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Porridge too hot; porridge too cold. This wine was trying to find something between Burgundy austere and California fruit overdose. It may have succeeded. It was almost rich in texture, nose and taste...but managed to restrain itself. Ripe strawberry and raspberry with a few shavings of oak bark. However I spent most of the time trying to figure out the logic and engineering around the closure -- a far too trendy plastic pop top that would not go back into the bottle firmly after first opening. A distraction. Like a beautiful woman wearing blingy hoop earrings.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a perfect wine for a california pinot / burgundy blind tasting as I think it will throw off a lot of people. Clean cherry fruit delivered in an elegant package. Doesn't quite have the acidic backbone and structure to be great and last too long, but I think this is a great $20 bottle of pinot for near term consumption, which outperforms 90% of the burgundies at this price point. I can see getting served at a lot of parties as it is very wide appealing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At Erich & Leanne's Sat post-Thanksgiving party: we opened this before the turkey dinner and finished the rest during the dinner. Leanne in particular loved it. The wine served in First Class on Emirates Air :)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mild nose of red berries, medium color, medium body. Taste of strawberry/cherry and hint of spice. Decent finish. Great QPR for $20. As good as many $35.00 Pinot's I've tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A really well balanced Pinot. It opens up nicely about a hour after uncorking. Very good structure, went perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner. It is a medium to medium light pinot but again with very good stucture and fjinish. I will buy more. On a side note, this bottle has a glass cork (with a silicone type seal). Very novel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
raspberry nose, a bit hot. Outstanding QPR in the CA bright integrated Pinot category. Raspberries, kiwi, strawberries, acids, a little hot. In the vein of Kosta Browne and Sea Smoke.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose is a little reticent at first but develops a bit of funk in a good way--lush fruit on the palate right off the bat. Black cherry, raspberry--good acidity. Some earthiness to keep it from being candied and simple. Medium finish. Drinking well now but should only get better in year or two. Outstanding value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vinet är avgjort mycket bättre efter många timmar luft. Från start är vinet inte helt i balans. Det finns några saftiga drag över det och lite fatkrydda som inte hänger ihop. Efter luftningen så fungerar allt väldigt bra. En fin blåröd frukt och lätt kryddighet med lite mineraler. Väldigt gott. 89+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a very nice wine, especially at this price. Fairly typical Central Coast PN, forward and fruit driven, but not simple. Raspberry, black cherry, with the aromatic kick and just a little wood. I'd give it a 90, but it's right on the edge. Still, a real QPR for PN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
not sure what to expect. first one. nice pinot. nose has some nice fruit, not explosive but nice. lighter body and no wow factor but easily picked as pinot. good fruit but rather simple overall. nice finsh but not deep or terribly nuanced. however, a nice drinking pinot. not off or a badly made pinot. for the money, a nice drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I picked up some interesting aromas and flavors in this bottle. Had an interesting bit of latex initially on the nose embedded in the red cherry and oak notes. I kept waiting for a hygienst to appear. It subdued a bit but still remained present. The richness emeged with a bit of air and the wine gained some weight in the glass. A huge blue fruit element on the palate or something else I can't readily describe. The wine seemed to integrate with a little more air and delivered and extremely satisfying experience. Notes of spice, delivered with a nice texture and body. Excellent overall value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good notes of red fruit, cherry & raspberry, with lots of Asian spice on the finish. Put on some weight after resting in the glass, after opening. Best with grilled crimini mushrooms and Scottish Salmon. Ok with the roasted parsnips. Good QPR for $20/bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice CA pinot for the money ($21). Not too much oak, nor too much candied fruit. Not a lot of complexity, just delicious. And sealed with a glass stopper which seems to be working fine as the wine was nice and fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Domestic New Releases Tasting (Binny's, St. Charles): Dark ruby color with aromas of cherry and flroals. Medium-bodied, with flavors of cherry and red fruit. Balanced, with a soft, silky mouthfeel. Lovely. 89-90 pts. $23.99.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Raspberries and strawberries on the nose. Similar fruit on the palate. Nice fruit and well-balanced wine. This is an amazing QPR for a CA pinot. If this offered a bit more complexity it would be out of this world.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. Loved the nose, weight, freshness and purity of fruit. Silky texture except for the finish. Red fruited and spicey. Only downnside is a slight alc burn on the finish. Otherwise, a major over acheiver in every respect for the $21 I paid for it. I'll try another btl no problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
brown sugar, sweet red fruit, and spice on the nose. the fruit is deliicious and carries thru to the finish with exotic spices. I would rate even higher but there is some vanilla oak that I could do without... maybe it will integrate over time. not classic in style but not entirely overdone either. a crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice value Pinot. Nothing outstanding, but all tastes factor above avg. I pick up fruit flavors, but not sweet lucious fruits more cranberry and cherry. Some oak but not an overpowering amount. A soft pepper. All together these flavors blend together nicely producing a good glass of Pinot for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle showed far more closed than previous bottles with less fruit and sweetness. Confirms this is an early drinker as the backbone isn't something to behold by itself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright red fruit on the nose with a good deal of warm spices. Definitely a ripe and bright pinot that is warmer and denser than some of Calera's single vineyard holdings in Northern California.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Translucent red. Somewhat reductive nose, cherry, bramble. Continues with cherry, herbs, sous bois, some oak (only 10% new per the label). Finish is wonderful, raspberry, sour cherries and herbs, not at all hot despite 14.3% ABV.
Delicioso! An incredible value in pinot and one of my favorites. Good tension and lift despite just so-so acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smells, looks and tastes like something with upside. It is a bit rough now. Good berry nose and spicy nose with spice on palate. This will really need another yr in the basement. It has fruit and tannins it will live. Good long pinot finish with good burgundy chracteristcs. Good buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/16/2023 - StevieW Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not raining here but in the key I enjoy this wine is singing. Medium- aged (some raisin here) fruit, smoke and savory qualities in this btl that I purchased on initial release. I always looked to Calera entry levels as a pretty sure thing for good QPR and this makes the grade. Nicely spicy on the med+ long tasty finish. My last bottle. 🙁
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2020 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 88 Points
Drank with Ian on Christmas Eve with cheese, sopressata and other goodies.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2019 - Lederhosen wrote: flawed
We waited too long. : (
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2017 - Thief Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great balanced Pinot. Somewhere between CA, Burgundy, and Oregon. Red fruits. Good acidity, soft tannins. Really drinking great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2017 - CRUSHER Likes this wine: 93 Points
one of my favorite pinot values
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2017 - CRUSHER Likes this wine: 92 Points
good value pinot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2016 - pkatz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still youthful, a full bodied dark fruited pinot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2016 - wculpepper Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty, clear ruby color. Flowery red cherries and eucalyptus on a delightful nose. Good balance of luscious fruit and acids on the palate. Still drinking well, but time to drink up. Good QPR at $21.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2016 - levinml wrote: 92 Points
Drank with the usual cedar plank salmon. $20 pinot and farm raised Costco salmon; you couldn't tell the difference between this and a $50 pinot and wild fresh king salmon. You don't need Whole Foods and single vineyards to have a great evening these days. Ain't America great!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2016 - rama Likes this wine:
Good value and solid wine. Showing some raisin/port on the finish now, but hard to knock it for the price.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2015 - WineGold Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light and beautiful in the glass, and light and contemplative on the palate. Lovely aroma. Cherry flavors with some interesting (again, light) tannic structure behind it. A lovely Pinot at a fine QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2015 - levinml wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with notes from 8 months earlier. This should re-calibrate pinot pricing. When you can get this for around $20, why are there so many mediocre $40 bottles? Nice, light fruit flavors with balance that makes it a pleasure to slurp in your mouth for a long time. No reason to wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2015 - levinml Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is an amazing Pinot value, especially at $20. Would be a great value at $30 or even $40. Round, light, but lots of flavor and long finish, with no high-acid lip puckering that people seem to love. Drank while preparing and eating salmon and went well either way. Highly recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2015 - pkatz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very pleasant, showing some age. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2015 - CRUSHER Likes this wine: 91 Points
good strong aromas of cherry and strawberry, good value pinot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2015 - slippytoad wrote: 90 Points
Big hit. Quite a broad shouldered Pinot, plenty of fruit. Want more
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2015 - oldwines Likes this wine: 89 Points
Light to medium bodied, well made entry level pinot noir. Great value. Medium ruby, lots of cherry on the nose. Fresh, bright, and light bodied. Easy drinking. Good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2015 - oldwines wrote: 89 Points
Dark translucent ruby. The nose is a bit more alcoholic than I remember it initially. My initial reaction is that this was better a year or two ago. It is still fresh and young with cherry, earthy forest floor and pine needles. Nice entry level pinot but not particularly distinguished. Still a decent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2014 - Mad Dane wrote: 85 Points
Not as good as the rest, way past its drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2014 - sbfern wrote: 89 Points
Very light wine not much structure fruit forward soft finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2014 - SheddVA wrote:
Aerated prior to first glass which brought out a slight bitterness. Following non aerated glasses were better. Seems to be at the end of its shelf life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2014 - Nomen Nescio Likes this wine: 90 Points
Doftkompott av smultron, bokna jordgubbar och lite hallon. Mycket läskande med hög klunkability. Mer kryddighet och läderdofter allt eftersom. Perfekt till anka med pommes duchesse och plommon-/ingefärasås.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2014 - 27greywolf wrote: 91 Points
Impressive: the nose was so different than the taste, but in this case this was a good thing. The nose was definitely on the lighter side (my guess was cherries and sweeter fruits), while I guessed that the taste was on the cola-side with a very sweet strawberry. Need to get my paws on more of these!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2014 - TheBosWineGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really moving into the sweet spot now I think. Great balance and a lovely mix of fruit forward and savory styles. It's a crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2014 - Nordin wrote: 89 Points
Light footed, the mouth feel is like a spätburgunder, red berries with some spices. Drinks well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2014 - MMiazga Likes this wine: 91 Points
Have had over a case now of these the last couple years, continuing to evolve and age well, especially for the great value buy it was. Latest one was a bit jumpy with the alcohol right out of the bottle, but was great after an hour. Darker cherries, a little cola and some earth all there. Seems like a few years are still left in these and will be holding the last ones to see what happens.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2014 - mazik Likes this wine: 93 Points
Complex, charming, pure pleasure. Held its own against a Sea Smoke Southing at more than double the price. Served with roasted lamb, quinoa salad, roasted fennel. My last voluptuous bottle, unfortunately....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2014 - dransford Likes this wine: 90 Points
I've had mixed results with Calera but this was fantastic for the price point. In a good spot right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2014 - hoservin wrote: 90 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas of cherry, earth, strawberry, cola and dried herb. Black cherry, toasted oak, spice and fine, smooth tannins lead to a medium to long finish. Medium bodied with good balance. Drinking well. Paired with maple dijon chicken.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2014 - wino121 wrote: 92 Points
I think it has finally exposed its self!
A tasty treat....
And or course my last btl!
Cheers!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2014 - CRUSHER Likes this wine: 91 Points
good value pinot, strawberry and cola notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2014 - NEwino wrote: 90 Points
No formal notes just a nice easy drinking pinot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2013 - nebre8 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Punches well above its weight, fragrant nose, fresh, fruity and perfumed, longish finish - a real crowd pleaser. Like the glass stopper too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2013 - dmatley Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very surprised in the development of this wine. While fruit forward from the beginning and possibly a bit too simple, this wine has really developed into something quite nice. It has developed a nose of black cherry, earthiness, flint and funk. On the palate there is still that dark cherry core, but there is much more complexity and background structure. A pretty decent finish. Day 2 this wine is still going strong with good acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Medium ruby color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over 2 hours. I really keep going back and forth on this wine. I find the nose rather appealing, offering a combination or damp and dry forest floor, cherry, dried berry, dried herbs, and fruit cake. The palate on the other hand lacks the complete follow through. There is sour cherry, currants, prominent spices, oak, and some metallic minerality. At times I find this a bit sharp on the mid palate and finish. The tannins are medium and the finish is medium as well. Certainly a good every day drinker, bordering on that 90pt threshold but falling a tad short.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2013 - alexmb1 wrote: 89 Points
Good bottle. i am just not a huge cali pinot fan.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
I just got a small pour of this on day 2. It was pretty comparable to the bottle from 5/25/13. Shows the earth, berry, cranberry, tart fruit, a little alcohol. My wife didn't think it was at 90 the first night, and liked it more day 2 as well. I don't think this will get much better though. 89+ to 90pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2013 - Geoff Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It tastes like Strawberry, and Cherry. The body is Medium. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2013 - Adventr.us wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle; showing tart cherries, spices, richness; 2nd glass better than first; wish I had more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2013 - St.Alton wrote: 90 Points
Went extremely well with the gumbo YA Ya
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 90 Points
consistent with notes of 7/9/2013
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 90 Points
strong spice, tart cherry, light and refreshing. Seems to have plenty of life, just as good the 2nd day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2013 - Nordin wrote: 90 Points
Dark transparent color. Fresh aromas of cherries and raspberries, some spices to that. Round body due to the high alcohol level, but no heat. Overall a good balance in the wine. Drinks very well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2013 - Richard123 wrote: 86 Points
Another less-than-stellar bottle; not bad, but flat and lacking the zip of the earlier ones. I think these are over the hill; drink them soon...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Medium red color. PNP. drank glasses on consecutive nights. This was considerably better the second day; far more evolved and integrated. The nose was always very nice showing earth, berry, cranberry, sweet. The palate started off a bit greenish with alcohol and oak overwhelming the fruit; however on day 2 this had all settled down nicely and the berry fruit, spice, and earth emerged nicely with a clean medium finish. Fairly light bodied, ripe, but not overt. A nice turnaround. 90+ pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2013 - yossarian.livez wrote: 88 Points
Beginning to enter the secondary phase. Red fruits on the nose. Palate of red fruits with tea and developing hints of darker flavors with hints of savory and spice. It gains density with air and cellar age. A bit rustic. Moderate finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2013 - Nojomoschwa wrote: 87 Points
I had this wine about a year ago and remember it being much better. It's a perfectly good multi-vineyard California Pinot, with nice aromatics and pretty lush red fruits; however the finish is a little clunky and actually quite bitter (from this single bottle at least). I like the glass closure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2013 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle was a "good" Calera; nice bright red fruit, not too jammy, well balanced, beautiful with salmon...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2013 - rojoloco Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good right out of the bottle. I saw the bottle variation notes from others. This was fine. Round and delicious but not too deep or complex. Ready to go.
The glass cork, if you can call it that, is a little odd though. Be careful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/17/2013 - MarioD wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine. Beaujolais-like. Fresh and fruity. Good balance. Medium finish. Pleasant wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2013 - godx wrote: 84 Points
No formal notes. Typical Cali pinot, riper profile, dark berry notes. A darker and riper style of pinot that I’m just not a fan of. Average.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2013 - Richard123 Likes this wine:
Ended up opening two bottles last night. The first was somewhat flat, like the bottle I drank last month. Dark red fruit, and a bit one-dimensional; not bad, but not as good as I remembered from six months ago.
The second bottle was much better! Bright red fruit popping out the glass, a little more spice on the tongue. Don't know whether the unusual glass stoppers are losing effectiveness quickly, or if I just got some bad bottles. Will have to pay attention to the rest of them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2012 - Richard123 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Almost an old-world style; bright cherry and slightly sour without being harsh or acidic, good dark fruits, spices and hint of vanilla. Been a while since I had one of these, not sure it's quite how I remember. I'll have to try another, maybe the glass stoppers don't keep the wine as well as cork?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2012 - Brangers Likes this wine: 91 Points
Served with prime rib for Christmas Eve dinner. Family enjoyed thoroughly. Will be taking a few more bottles for Christmas dinner. This wine will only get better with another year or so in cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2012 - skp88 wrote: 90 Points
Party favorite. Bright red cherries. Simple but delicious
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2012 - Redrunners Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice every day drinker - moderately complex, with silky tannins with nice fruit. Juicy dark cherry and sweet raspberry with a little pepper at finish.
Bought some more of this - nice bottle to enjoy on its own or with dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2012 - hoservin wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Nose of cherry, strawberry, toasted oak, and vanilla. Cherry and soft, fine tannins lead to a medium to long finish. Medium bodied and well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2012 - dlstrauss wrote: 91 Points
Very solid
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2012 - godbee wrote:
Gave as gifts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2012 - wino121 wrote: 88 Points
Nose 91, taste 88, finish 86..and I don't see much improvement coming.
Not real good for all the press this Pinot has received.
And not as good as the last one, it might be in a funny place right now??
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2012 - Royaljelly Likes this wine: 87 Points
I'm just getting into Pinot's now, while it lacks a bit of the wow factor, the nose is subtle and flavours are refined and smooth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2012 - SCMeyer wrote: 91 Points
Great nose, hints at whats next. Light ruby color with cherry and cranberry fruit with an outstanding blend of secondary characteristics including mineral and tea. This is what I look for in CA Pinot - smooth, complex and not overdone. Great with food and enjoyable to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Medium red color. Drank 1+ glass over an hour. This had been open for a couple hours when I had it. The nose is open and fresh, with bright red fruits, red raspberry, cherry, florals, complex spice notes. the palate is vibrant, flavors dance on the palate, great purity of fruit, red berries and cherries, medium-light body. this comes off delicate but yet has amazing depth. Long penetrating finish. Drank this again on day 2 and am even more impressed. This definitely needs some air to evolve fully. I am thoroughly impressed by this and what a steal it is. Nummy 92+ to 93pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2012 - Jensson wrote: 90 Points
Delicious as always.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2012 - fanglangzhe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smell: cola, dark cherry, slight vanilla. Taste: dark cherry, cola, dark chocolate. Good balance. High deliciousness factor.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2012 - MusignyBlanc wrote: 89 Points
Traveling and looking for a decent meal in a foreign town and was hopeful when I saw the Calera on the wine list. A decent price for an old school standby. And this wine didn't disappoint. Very forward acids with slight carbonic fizz (?). Offset by a bit over the top round fruit. Not complex. But in the long run a satisfying (guilty?) pleasure on the road and far from the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2012 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 90 Points
No notes taken, but this is a really nice bottle for the money. Bright red fruit in an elegant, understated style. Lacking complexity, but delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2012 - Tarrant wrote: 90 Points
Lovely Central Coast Pinot, all the typicity you would expect - Dark, medium/full bodied with a nose of cherry, cranberry, cinnamon spice, nutmeg, cola and vanilla, well structured and balanced, typical of this region, sweet, sour on the palate with excellent length, very tasty! (90 Points).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2012 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Robust CA Pinot. Great dinner wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2012 - mazik wrote: 92 Points
Amazing bouquet of wild strawberries and spice persisting into the first taste, when the earth and roasted meat tones join the party. Lively acids, actually a bit of carbonic spritz (a fault but who cares) and soft tannins. Yummy wine probably at its peak. Weird glass stopper I've never seen before. Anyone who tries putting his corkscrew through the capsule has a mess on his hands.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2012 - dwaynelm wrote: 91 Points
Difficult to put the glass down with this one. Excellent varietal character. Rich spicy cherry, hint of blueberry, good acidity, and a little earthiness. Only thing I didn't like was the glass stopper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2012 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose was highly expressive with a bouquet that showed sweet cherries, pine nettles and dark soil notes. On the palate it was silky smooth yet juicy, with pure dark cherry fruit, hints of herbs, and a crack of pepper. The finish followed suit, as it’s red fruit and earthy profile slowly melted away from the palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 87 Points
Where'd the fruit go? Gone were the bright strawberries - now replaced with dusty sour cherry and aroma/palate of manure. Not what my past bottles were like - how disappointing!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2012 - Casadellago wrote:
- Aromas of artificial grape and has flavours of cloves and black pepper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2012 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just such a wonderful food wine!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2012 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Consumed at a wine dinner...after dinner, nice body and a lovely finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2012 - MindMuse wrote: 91 Points
With applewood smoked baby back ribs, and just ideal pig-and-pinot. This is amazingly delicious and deep Pinot for $20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2012 - wahoo70 wrote: 91 Points
Juicy and well-balanced; pretty transparent ruby color; lovely nose of cherries, raspberries, provencal herbs and dark forest floor; nice acidity, bright juicy red cherry and berry flavors, some herbs in the background (oregano? rosemary?), and a touch of vanilla; lovely firm, well-integrated tannins for balance, which grow through the tangy, fruity finish. Delicious and approachable, and a wonderful qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2012 - MH Amateur wrote: 92 Points
Smooth, easy to drink. Not overly complex. Great balance. Good QPR - $20 per bottle. Excellent middle of the week drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2012 - chanote44 wrote: 90 Points
This has wonderful fresh strawberry and bing cherry fruit with a hint of clove and ceder. I absolutely love the glass stopper held in place by the top foil. The closure makes me want to give this wine a higher score! (91)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2012 - NEwino Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is an extremely nice lighter bodied Pinot that I enjoy going to when I am looking for a nice red to drink with a salad or just when I am sitting outside. Very smooth and enjoyable bottle of Pinot that really isn't made to be complex. Drink now to 2015
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2012 - toddmk wrote: 90 Points
Great QPR. Everyone enjoyed this wine. Definitely delicious. A slightly burgundian style due to some musty aromas and decent acidity but unmistakable ripe Cali fruit and lacked the distinction of terroir you get from a Burgundy. Grapes are picked from several different vineyards and thus the fruit is very ripe, but not overripe. Well done!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2012 - golfwine wrote: 88 Points
Nice. Earthy aromatics. Intriguing. Deft balance. Nice. Great QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2012 - DesMarteau wrote: 90 Points
Bright...seemless....good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2012 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with Vinturi and a one hour decant. Aromas of tart cherry, strawberry, spice, vanilla, and oak. Cherry with mild tannins on the mid-palate lead to a medium-to-long finish. Medium bodied with good acidity. A solid Pinot that paired well with pork chops in honey mustard sauce.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2012 - CounselorEp wrote: 80 Points
Limited nose, no finish, lacking complexity, minimal body. Nothing to like about this wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2012 - JuliannaDHS wrote: 88 Points
After a few minutes in the glass, the aromas were really fruity and nice. Cherry cola on the palate with a slightly green finish. Wait 6 months before opening another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 90 Points
Slowly gaining an appreciation for this pinot. Totally NOT worth the $30 price that I've seen elsewhere, but for the $18 I've paid for this one, I'm coming around! Only one bottle left, though ...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2012 - Empirate wrote: 85 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours, consumed over 1 hour. Modest nose of sour cherry and earth. Similar on the palate. Integrated . Balanced toward acid. Light tannin and medium short finish. Paired well with spicy orange chicken and daily vegetables stir fried. Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2012 - swade wrote: 85 Points
Nice rich garnet dust color. Distinctive nose of rhubarb, which I recall from past vintages. Smooth palate echoes with sweet rhubarb pie and juniper. Balanced. I suspect this is a Pinot you could age. Well made, but something about the flavor profile does not appeal to me (stems?). YMMV.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2012 - devraj wrote: 92 Points
Bright ruby red in color. A lovely nose that is decidedly burgundian reveals Vosne spice, wet leaves, ripe red cherries, cranberries and flowers. A medium bodied palate follows through with silky and perfectly ripe red berry fruit on a spicy and flowery note on the finish. Antonio was perfect in his rating on this wine. This is a great value for CA pinot noir.
From the nose, it seems that the 2009 has seen whole cluster fermentation, am I correct? The glass top wine closure also caught me by surprise, any thoughts behind this, i.e.; why use this closure vs. a traditional screw top? Thanks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2012 - Miceri wrote: 91 Points
Medium to dark red; intense fruity fresh nose, raspberry, strawberry; ripe, elegant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2012 - cbizzle wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of spiced cherries and oregano. Highly concentrated berry and rose petal flavors, just the right acidity, and the alcohol (14.3%) is well integrated and not at all distracting. A wonderful bottle of wine that will become one of my regulars.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2012 - Frederyck wrote:
Ready to drink Pinot with loads of cedar and cherries, but still balanced and earthen-y. I really like this wine! Excellent value for money!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2012 - MindMuse wrote: 91 Points
Just drinking wonderfully. Great balance of fruit and earth and structure. Terrific Jensen blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2012 - yossarian.livez wrote: 87 Points
As expected from Calera, an excellent value pinot!
Nice nose, cherries and vanilla. Fairly polished tannins and ready to drink now. Cherries, cedary almost with hints of black tea, with a moderate finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2012 - Darkhorn wrote: 89 Points
Very nice, lively California Pinot that has an old world note of barnyard funk that I love. The strong acidic nature of this wind cut thru a rich chicken dish but it would do well on its own. I find the liveliness reminds me of a nice Beaujolais.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2012 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 89 Points
Definitely on the lighter side, but with an excellent nose and good flavor intensity on the palate. Balanced. Excellent wine for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2012 - sailincarib Likes this wine: 85 Points
Had this wine a second time at Bistro Montage. Tasted even better than first bottle. Decanted for 2 hours. Excellent $24 pinot.
Had another bottle in June of 2014, decanted an hour or so and still great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2012 - Night Thief wrote: 87 Points
Very little bit of earth and funk on the nose, but not much else. Hints of strawberry and bubble gum on palate. Decent finish. Not bad. Nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2012 - tuebach wrote: 90 Points
Very bold version of Pinor Noir. Really intense, but still balanced and elegante. Extremely good value. If I could, I would by loads more. Very well made american wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 89 Points
Before, I might have complained that there wasn't enough earth, because it was "just jazzy strawberries and mint". But this one, I had right after drinking an Orin Swift the Prisoner, so it brought out a lot of the earthier elements of the wine. I'll want to keep on trying this in the future to see if I can get more of a balance of the fruits and non-fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2012 - cbbrown3 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted about an hour. Light to medium ruby color. Raspberry, baking spices, dried herbs, earthy underbrush, and a bit of vanilla and a hint of an herbal element on the open but delicate nose. Medium body at most with soft, ripe tannins and tart acidity. Tart berries, herbs and spices on the palate with earthy elements coming in and a late herbal note. Decent length on the finish that shows more savory than fruity. The herbal note again comes in a pit too hard at the end. Very nice $20 Californian Pinot, that will be really nice if the herbal note incorporates a bit more. Very tasty. The wine is closed with a glass stopper, which I really like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2012 - MichielV wrote: 89 Points
Very nice pinot. Fruity beautiful color. We had this after dinner and decide this needs food to show itself. After half hour it showed good structure and started to last on the finish. This probably needs some age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2012 - Teamcrev wrote:
Decent $20 Pinot. Would buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 87 Points
I drank the remainder of a bottle opened the day before - right after drinking a 2006 Mount Eden pinot. This was a really unfair thing to do as in comparison to the Mount Eden, the Calera was clumsy, very herbal and without any polish or elegance. Drinkable but bordering on being unpleasant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2012 - jtinto wrote: 87 Points
Easy drinking cherry dominated pinot. Some herbs and a touch of green notes. Short finish. All in all simple yet enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/25/2012 - RobertDwyer wrote: 88 Points
Totally clean - there's nothing wrong here. This is a great example of what a very good $20 California Pinot Noir should be. Ample fruit, restraint, herbs. Pretty. Enjoyable. Nice stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2012 - jingram wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with prior note this is solid for the price. Very smooth and easy drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 89 Points
Decanted over an hour. Nose of strawberry and mint. Initial strawberry and alcohol bite dissipates within seconds on the palate, and refreshing red fruits, spearmint and spice keep dancing throughout the finish. Not an over-the-top pinot, but not necessarily elegant, either. Rather, it's flirtacious and inviting - quite an easy drinker - not something so complex as to warrant extensive pontification. The mouthfeel had a medium weight with an almost-carbonated feel. At $19, it's a few bucks higher than what I'd expect to pay - but if it was $14-15, I'd stock up for sure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2012 - Oskar Nyman wrote: 89 Points
Delicious & well-managed sunshine-fruit, ending slightly herbaceous - plenty of pinosity for the dough.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 88 Points
Overall, rather unremarkable. Flavors and aromas of cherry with a hint of earth and oak. Not much depth or complexity, rather soft and lacking much in the way of structure or grip. Nothing really wrong, but also nothing above average.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2012 - suzanna9452000 wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby in the glass. Fruit, earth, wood, with a bit of funk on the nose. In the mouth: Nice flavor profile of red fruit, wood, spice, cola. Big mineral quality, slightly spritzy mouthfeel, high alcohol, low acidity. Wine improved on day 2, with things a bit more settled down and better integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2012 - ksde wrote: 87 Points
Good balanced pinot but lacking complexity for my taste. Better after a couple hours in the decanter but still just not able to rise above the basic cherry cola notes. Had a glass stopper instead of a cork seal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2012 - rsbeck wrote: 89 Points
A well-made pinot whose light body comes off as restraint. A charming casual quaffer with some complexity and sophistication. Perfect for a cocktail party wine, but could also see duty with mid-week salmon or roasted chicken. Will buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2012 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Ruby color with cherry and herb notes that follow through on the palate. Nice acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2012 - mwneil wrote: 88 Points
Nice bouquet, hollow taste, spicey, high alcohol,enjoyed the wine but something was missing
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2012 - Not647f wrote: 87 Points
Third wine of the evening--we had lots of help. This is a nice enough wine, but not a wowser. Some cherry cola, leafy aromas, seemed more simple than last time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2012 - df1962 wrote: 91 Points
No formal notes, but liked it and will definitely get again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2012 - NEwino Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a a wonderfully expressive Pinot for the money. I opened and let sit for about 30-40 minutes after I got an burst of heat upon popping and pouring. This burnt off and lead to a very expressing ripe strawberry nose which continued from the beginning to end of each drink. This is a light Pinot that I feel could easily be drank relaxing with friends or as compliment to a nice meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2012 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Better than I remember, more fuller fruited, less cranberry, richer, good stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2012 - csnyder612 wrote: 86 Points
To me the color appears more brick than cherry as some have described. Thin color - light body. Immediate impression of red cherry to the nose with a hint of earthy undertone. Up front fruit, definitely cherry, with pepper. Medium to short finish. Not flat, but without much depth or complexity. Low soft tanin. low acidity. Not a "special occasion" wine, but an enjoyable wine for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2012 - njgolfer wrote: 89 Points
Drank over 2 days.
Day 1 - expressive nose of ripe red fruits, raspberries and strawberries plus some earthiness. On the palate, the ripe strawberries, earthy wood pine notes and cherries. Love the overall high profile fruit without being a fruit bomb. Offset against good acidity.
Day 2 - nose and palate died down. White pepper, more pronounced alcohol heat with little of that really fun strawberry.
Much preferred this wine on day 1. If it wasn't for the diminished showing on day 2, I would have given this 90 points. I knock it down a point as a result.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2012 - Yostie wrote:
Fruity aroma. Very smooth with no tannins at the end. A good wine from start to finish. A great wine for $20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2012 - brian przyzycki wrote: 90 Points
Very rich flavors of strawberry, rasberry, and spice. Kind of burgundian or williamette valley. However, this wine suffers from an alcoholic profile and nose that never blows off. Even after a second day. A great deal at 20 bucks, but the alcohol prevents a higher score. I bought several of these and am going to see if a year or two in the cellar doesn't tame these down a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2012 - PBaird wrote: 89 Points
Opened to celebrate the end of a fun ski trip with the family. Medium cherry color with lightening rim. Fantastic nose--- good intensity, all red fruits, cherry liquor, earth, and spice. Palate mostly matches what the nose portends... this is an earthy, expressive Pinot, red cherries and strawberries balanced with earthiness/garrigue. Would be a dead ringer for a solid Burgundy, except it lacks the acidic profile and structure. Ultimately a fairly soft wine, just enough acid to be balanced, certainly ready to drink. Very enjoyable. Very good QPR at $20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2011 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 89 Points
Great aromatics with red cherry, sweet oak and some spiciness. Palate continued red and blue fruit elements with continued presence of spice. Gained additional weight in the glass after opening and offers good texture and mouthfeel. Nice berries with additional evolution- this one seems to integrate in the glass given a bit of time. Nice value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2011 - Finare Vinare wrote: 91 Points
Wide open nose that makes us think of Fritz Becker on an exchange trip to make wine in California. Red cherries and blood oranges, strawberries and bergamotte. Anise, mint and a forest clearing in spring with herbs and flowers. Intense, immediate, pastille-fruity taste with orange acidity and a creamy mouthfeel. Quite cool aroma profile, with just a little kick of spicy alcohol in the finish (14,3%). Great pinosity, and lots of pleasure to be had. Just watch the temperature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2011 - gondrik wrote: 93 Points
A great balance with plenty of fruit but light on its feet, so you think Pinot, not Syrah. On our second case.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2011 - jingram wrote: 92 Points
- Ruby color and aromas of cherry, strawberry with a dusty element. It's balanced with a medium body. Bright texture with a medium finish - Red fruit is very prominent but is combined very well with the acidity. This is drinking really well now but another year or two won't hurt it. Really a cross between a burgundy and a new world Pinot noir. Overall a nice wine especially for the price, highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2011 - dougsmith wrote: 90 Points
Deep ruby color. Sweet berry aroma with an interesting savory component. Medium bodied and fresh on the palate. Liking the glass stopper too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2011 - dmatley wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very well. Nice earthy red and black fruits with just enough acidity. A near term drinker and an excellent value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2011 - cbkamp wrote: 86 Points
Nose of intense cranberry and cherry - almost candied. Red fruit on the palate with a fairly bitter finish. Decent QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2011 - maderay wrote: 89 Points
VG+. Not a typical californian pinot noir, more burguidian style
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2011 - bonedoc wrote: 91 Points
Wow, this wine really nails it for the price. Ample, accessible ripe strawberry and cherry fruit w just enough acidity. Not a blockbuster, nor an ager, but captures that sweet Cali Pinot fruit for about as good a price as you'll ever see.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2011 - iceman10 wrote: 86 Points
I expected a lot more from this based on the previous ratings - too light and bland for a pinot noir - just not a lot there. Not much more to say, other than slight disappointment on something I was expecting more from.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2011 - h20medic wrote: 92 Points
Great for $20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - tanninbomb wrote: 90 Points
Porridge too hot; porridge too cold. This wine was trying to find something between Burgundy austere and California fruit overdose. It may have succeeded. It was almost rich in texture, nose and taste...but managed to restrain itself. Ripe strawberry and raspberry with a few shavings of oak bark. However I spent most of the time trying to figure out the logic and engineering around the closure -- a far too trendy plastic pop top that would not go back into the bottle firmly after first opening. A distraction. Like a beautiful woman wearing blingy hoop earrings.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2011 - Frederyck wrote:
Excellent Pinot Noir, with well advanced nose and palate. Readily drinkable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2011 - pifcho wrote: 90 Points
This is a perfect wine for a california pinot / burgundy blind tasting as I think it will throw off a lot of people. Clean cherry fruit delivered in an elegant package. Doesn't quite have the acidic backbone and structure to be great and last too long, but I think this is a great $20 bottle of pinot for near term consumption, which outperforms 90% of the burgundies at this price point. I can see getting served at a lot of parties as it is very wide appealing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2011 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
At Erich & Leanne's Sat post-Thanksgiving party: we opened this before the turkey dinner and finished the rest during the dinner. Leanne in particular loved it. The wine served in First Class on Emirates Air :)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2011 - WinstonWolfe wrote: 89 Points
Nicely balanced but simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - jlouderb wrote: 89 Points
This would have been a great Thanksgiving food wine, except we finished it before the meal. it was that good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - coreywb Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mild nose of red berries, medium color, medium body. Taste of strawberry/cherry and hint of spice. Decent finish. Great QPR for $20. As good as many $35.00 Pinot's I've tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - Gordianbar wrote: 88 Points
A really well balanced Pinot. It opens up nicely about a hour after uncorking. Very good structure, went perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner. It is a medium to medium light pinot but again with very good stucture and fjinish. I will buy more. On a side note, this bottle has a glass cork (with a silicone type seal). Very novel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2011 - DesMarteau wrote: 92 Points
raspberry nose, a bit hot. Outstanding QPR in the CA bright integrated Pinot category. Raspberries, kiwi, strawberries, acids, a little hot. In the vein of Kosta Browne and Sea Smoke.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2011 - dmatley wrote: 91 Points
Nose is a little reticent at first but develops a bit of funk in a good way--lush fruit on the palate right off the bat. Black cherry, raspberry--good acidity. Some earthiness to keep it from being candied and simple. Medium finish. Drinking well now but should only get better in year or two. Outstanding value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2011 - nzinkgraf wrote:
A bursting cherry, a not-so-dark fruit aspect. Vibrant, easy spice, deep red fruit, orange rind. Tannin is pretty easy here. Bursting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2011 - Carolus81 wrote: 89 Points
Vinet är avgjort mycket bättre efter många timmar luft. Från start är vinet inte helt i balans. Det finns några saftiga drag över det och lite fatkrydda som inte hänger ihop. Efter luftningen så fungerar allt väldigt bra. En fin blåröd frukt och lätt kryddighet med lite mineraler. Väldigt gott. 89+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2011 - pkatz wrote: 92 Points
Nothing tutti-fruity here. A dark structured pinot that should age well and make an excellent Thanksgiving wine with turkey.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2011 - Not647f wrote: 89 Points
This is a very nice wine, especially at this price. Fairly typical Central Coast PN, forward and fruit driven, but not simple. Raspberry, black cherry, with the aromatic kick and just a little wood. I'd give it a 90, but it's right on the edge. Still, a real QPR for PN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2011 - jc-mmb wrote: 88 Points
not sure what to expect. first one. nice pinot. nose has some nice fruit, not explosive but nice. lighter body and no wow factor but easily picked as pinot. good fruit but rather simple overall. nice finsh but not deep or terribly nuanced. however, a nice drinking pinot. not off or a badly made pinot. for the money, a nice drink.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2011 - scottpwine wrote: 89 Points
Great Pinot!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2011 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 89 Points
I picked up some interesting aromas and flavors in this bottle. Had an interesting bit of latex initially on the nose embedded in the red cherry and oak notes. I kept waiting for a hygienst to appear. It subdued a bit but still remained present. The richness emeged with a bit of air and the wine gained some weight in the glass. A huge blue fruit element on the palate or something else I can't readily describe. The wine seemed to integrate with a little more air and delivered and extremely satisfying experience. Notes of spice, delivered with a nice texture and body. Excellent overall value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2011 - K&RCheev wrote: 91 Points
Expressive red fruit and flowers, spices and mint. Lovely mid palate juiciness and an elegant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2011 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Good notes of red fruit, cherry & raspberry, with lots of Asian spice on the finish.
Put on some weight after resting in the glass, after opening. Best with grilled crimini mushrooms and Scottish Salmon. Ok with the roasted parsnips. Good QPR for $20/bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2011 - pikemasterflash wrote: 88 Points
Thin without a lot of fruit or structure, completely unremarkable
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2011 - jim dixon wrote: 90 Points
Very nice CA pinot for the money ($21). Not too much oak, nor too much candied fruit. Not a lot of complexity, just delicious. And sealed with a glass stopper which seems to be working fine as the wine was nice and fresh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2011 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Domestic New Releases Tasting (Binny's, St. Charles): Dark ruby color with aromas of cherry and flroals. Medium-bodied, with flavors of cherry and red fruit. Balanced, with a soft, silky mouthfeel. Lovely. 89-90 pts. $23.99.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2011 - cookie7 wrote: 91 Points
Raspberries and strawberries on the nose. Similar fruit on the palate. Nice fruit and well-balanced wine. This is an amazing QPR for a CA pinot. If this offered a bit more complexity it would be out of this world.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2011 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Loved the nose, weight, freshness and purity of fruit. Silky texture except for the finish. Red fruited and spicey. Only downnside is a slight alc burn on the finish. Otherwise, a major over acheiver in every respect for the $21 I paid for it. I'll try another btl no problem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2011 - signotim wrote: 90 Points
brown sugar, sweet red fruit, and spice on the nose. the fruit is deliicious and carries thru to the finish with exotic spices. I would rate even higher but there is some vanilla oak that I could do without... maybe it will integrate over time. not classic in style but not entirely overdone either. a crowd pleaser.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2011 - Chrisncarter wrote: 90 Points
Nice value Pinot. Nothing outstanding, but all tastes factor above avg. I pick up fruit flavors, but not sweet lucious fruits more cranberry and cherry. Some oak but not an overpowering amount. A soft pepper. All together these flavors blend together nicely producing a good glass of Pinot for the money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2011 - Black_Pine wrote: 90 Points
Sour cherry. Opened up nicely after about an hour.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2011 - alr6767 wrote: 86 Points
This bottle showed far more closed than previous bottles with less fruit and sweetness. Confirms this is an early drinker as the backbone isn't something to behold by itself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2011 - tooch wrote:
Bright red fruit on the nose with a good deal of warm spices. Definitely a ripe and bright pinot that is warmer and denser than some of Calera's single vineyard holdings in Northern California.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2011 - alr6767 wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2011 - alr6767 wrote: 90 Points
Translucent red. Somewhat reductive nose, cherry, bramble. Continues with cherry, herbs, sous bois, some oak (only 10% new per the label). Finish is wonderful, raspberry, sour cherries and herbs, not at all hot despite 14.3% ABV.
Delicioso! An incredible value in pinot and one of my favorites. Good tension and lift despite just so-so acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2011 - Baggio wrote: 89 Points
This wine is just packed with character and fruit. Amazing for the price, but too sweet for my taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2011 - MattMauldin wrote: 90 Points
Tasting room pour. Lots of bright cherry notes along with baking spice and a nice minerality. Medium finish. Drinks well as an everyday Pinot Noir.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2011 - MichielV wrote: 89 Points
Smells, looks and tastes like something with upside. It is a bit rough now. Good berry nose and spicy nose with spice on palate. This will really need another yr in the basement. It has fruit and tannins it will live. Good long pinot finish with good burgundy chracteristcs. Good buy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2011 - SanFranSoxFan04 wrote: 91 Points
LOVE the nose, killer bargain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment