The name Calera is the Spanish word for limekiln, which serves as the winery’s symbol and appears on every bottle of wine. Calera has been at the forefront of California pinot noir & chardonnay wine-making for nearly half a century: ‘taking its cue from the great Domaines of Burgundy’.
Situated some 100 miles south of San Francisco in the Gavilan Mountains of California's Central Coast (37 miles inland), Josh Jensen planted vines in 1974 (releasing his first single vineyard pinot noirs in 1978); followed by viognier in 1983 & chardonnay in 1984. Since then Calera has consistently produced what many call the finest pinot noirs in the USA.
Focusing on pinot from six single vineyards in the Mt Harlan AVA and three white vineyards, every wine is beautifully individual and shows off the unique terroir of each site.
Calera’s vineyards lie at an average of 2200 feet above sea level and are cooled by the direct flow of cold marine air off the Pacific Ocean through the Monterey Bay coast, towards the upper elevations of the Gavilan Mountain Range and Mt. Harlan. The elevation further moderates the climate in what many expect to be a hot growing region reducing the temperature about three degrees for every 1000 feet of height in elevation.
Calera tells us "Thanks to the abundant early season rains, and Mt. Harlan’s high elevation and marine-influenced climate, our estate has produced complex & elegant wines in 2017, with beautifully balanced acids & sugars".
Tasting Notes from Wine Advocate (Feb'20) - Erin Brooks
Calera Viognier 2017 Mt Harlan
£150 per six in bond
Wine Advocate 92pts - Erin Brook
The 2017 Viognier has a lovely nose of white pepper, honeycomb, honeysuckle and quince paste with a core of apple pie, toast, hay and musk. It's medium-bodied and wonderfully intense in the mouth with great freshness and a long, layered finish. Drink to 2022
Calera Chardonnay 2017 Mt Harlan
£185 per six in bond
Wine Advocate 93pts - Erin Brook
The 2017 Chardonnay Mount Harlan went through full malolactic and aged 15 months in 30% new French oak. The nose unfurls to mushroom tart, prosciutto, baked quince and golden apples with a streak of crushed shell/saline plus accents of orange blossoms, jasmine and hazelnuts. Light to medium-bodied, it's minerally on the entry, slowly spreading savoury wings in the mouth, lifted by tangy acidity and finishing long, bright and mineral again. I love the dynamic character of this wine. Drink to 2025
Calera Pinot Noir 2017 de Villiers Vineyard
£235 per six in bond
Wine Advocate 93pts - Erin Brook
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir deVilliers Vineyard, aged 17 months in 30% new French oak, gives up broody cherry coulis, underbrush, crushed stone, dried redcurrants and cranberries aromas with notions of blood orange, tea leaves and cured meats. Medium-bodied, intense and layered, it's well framed and juicy with a long and pleasantly restrained finish. Drink to 2025
Calera Pinot Noir 2017 Ryan Vineyard
£245 per six in bond
Wine Advocate 92pts - Erin Brook
The 2017 Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard, aged 17 months in 30% new French oak, has a pale to medium ruby-purple colour and is youthful and shy to begin. With coaxing, aromas of prosciutto, wild blackberries, lemon peel and redcurrants emerge, with nuances of oolong tea leaves and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, it's broody and earthy with lifted citrusy accents in the mouth, a finely grained frame and juicy freshness on the finish. Drink to 2025
Calera Pinot Noir 2017 Mills Vineyard
£265 per six in bond
Wine Advocate 90pts - Erin Brook
Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard, aged 17 months in 30% new French oak, has a floral-laced nose of cranberries, fresh raspberries, orange peel, tea leaves, potpourri and saline with an earthy undercurrent. Light to medium-bodied, it's bright, fresh and lifted with a finely grainy frame and juicy acidity on the finish. Drink to 2023
Calera Pinot Noir 2017 Jensen Vineyard
£370 per six in bond
Wine Advocate 93pts - Erin Brook
Aged 17 months in 20% new oak, the pale to medium ruby coloured 2017 Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard is scented of cranberries, Earl Grey tea, dried flowers, dust, crushed stone, dried thyme and blackberries with hints of mushrooms, tree bark and cured meats. The palate is light to medium-bodied and intense with very pretty layers, a gently grainy frame and a long, juicy, nuanced finish. Drink to 2026