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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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2014 PINOT NOIR
Calera’s Central Coast wines are made from grapes grown by selected vineyards in California’s Central Coast Viticultural Area – and this 2014 Pinot Noir is the product of careful selections from no less than 9 of the region’s most pedigree’d and highly respected vineyard sites. This 2014 vintage was an outstanding year for Pinot Noir – offering the perfect balance between a good sized yield and outstanding ripeness, concentration and balance. The grapes were harvested by hand then fermented with native yeast in small open-top fermenters. After fourteen days, the wines were pressed, settled over night, 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 finally 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 versatile and tasteful pairing for a wide range of proteins and flavours. Working with everything from pork to salmon to chicken to vegetarian fare, Pinot Noir generally (and this sensational example in particular) offers refreshment, complexity and complementary aromatic qualities, seemingly in equal measure. For the best results, look for dishes featuring mushrooms or beets – two ingredients whose earthy flavours and succulence make them divine pairings for fine Pinot Noir.
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RECIPE IDEAS
Baked Chicken w/ Porcini Mushroom Risotto
Ina Garten’s Bouef Bourguignon
Grilled Salmon w/ Blackberry-Red Wine Sauce
EXPERT OPINION
“Supple, sexy, seamless and elegant, with classic Calera notes of raspberries, mulled cherries, spice and dried soil, it has no hard edges, a core of sweet fruit and a beautiful finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. I’m sure it will keep for 4-5 years (probably longer), but there’s no need to delay gratification. Don’t miss this fabulous effort and bravo to the Calera team for delivering this level of quality at the price.” –J. Dunnuck, RobertParker.com
92 / 100 Points
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Producer: Calera
Wine: Pinot Noir
Origin: Central Coast, California
Vintage: 2014
LCBO #: 933044
Price: Sold Out! But please browse ADDITIONAL VINTAGES AND OFFERINGS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE from Calera.