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CALERA
It may all appear simple and logical enough today, but when Calera founder, Josh Jensen, first began his journey into the world of wine, there were few who would have seen the route he chose as the safe choice. At a time when most California start-ups were looking to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Josh Jensen took a different path–seeking out the perfect soils where his dreams of producing world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay could take root.
Today, Calera finds itself in highly-esteemed company as one of the world’s leading producers of these noble Burgundian varietals. And much like the search for the perfect limestone riddled site, the winery design, farming practices, and winemaking methods refuse to indulge even the smallest of compromises, putting the fanatical and singular pursuit of making great wine ahead of any other. These are amongst the most sought after and collectible wines in Vinexx’s line-up, available for brief periods and in tiny quantities each year.
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CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIR 2015 40th ANNIVERSARY VINTAGE
From the producer: The fourth year of a drought gave us very low yields across California, resulting in wines with great depth and concentration. 2015 was the earliest and fastest harvest ever for us here at Calera. After hand harvesting, the grapes were fermented with native yeast in small open-top fermenters. After fourteen days, the wines were pressed, settled overnight, and then moved to Calera’s barrel cellar. The wine was aged without racking, in French oak barrels, 10% new, for eleven months. The individual barrel lots were combined prior to bottling.
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WITH FOOD
Pinot Noir is one of those wines that home cooks and hardcore foodies love, as it is a delicious and versatile pairing for a wide range of proteins and flavours. Working with everything from pork to salmon to vegetarian fare, Pinot Noir generally offers refreshment, complexity, and complementary aromatic qualities, seemingly in equal measure. For best results, look for dishes featuring mushrooms or beets – two ingredients whose succulent, earthy flavours make them divine pairings for fine Pinot Noir.
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RECIPE IDEAS
Barefoot Contessa’s Mushroom & Leek Bread Pudding
Bon Appetit‘s Pork Tenderloin with Golden Beets
Roast Turkey with Truffle Butter
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FROM THE WINEMAKER
“The bouquet possesses a lovely mix of richness, fruit and savory like blackberry pie; quite comforting. On the palate we find intriguing hints of pink rose, briar, red currant, violets and spice; this Pinot has an alluring silky texture with deep flavors of black cherry, baking spice and a whisper of licorice. It’s nicely structured and lingers beautifully on the finish.”
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EXPERT OPINIONS
“The keenly priced 2015 Pinot Noir 40th Anniversary Vintage from Calera is lovely, wafting from the glass with youthfully complex aromas of potpourri, cherries, strawberry and spice. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, expansive and velvety, with a succulent core of fruit, melting tannins and a long, tangy finish. Enjoy this delicious offering now or over the coming decade.” –W. Kelley, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, #236
92 / 100 Points
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“From six vineyards across the Central Coast, Josh Jensen’s annual cuvée shows black cherry, cola and nutmeg on the straight-ahead nose. Solid herbal backbone shows on the sip, with juniper, bay leaf and pine needles giving tang to the sour cranberry fruit. A menthol character carries in to the finish.” –M. Kettmann, WineEnthusiast.com
91 / 100 Points
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Producer: Calera
Wine: Central Coast Pinot Noir 40th Anniversary Vintage
Origin: Central Coast, California
Vintage: 2015
LCBO #: 933044
Price: $48.95
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