Calera Mt Harlan Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard 2017

96 Points The Somm Journal
Aromas and flavors of sweet earth and vibrant rose petals open this ethereal red. Jasmine takes shape with underlying notes of crushed rock and sugared beets. Hedonistic as it is, it gradually gentles, paving the way for the elegant finish.

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of dried herbs, leather, redcurrants, and a touch of sassafras emerge from the medium-bodied 2017 Pinot Noir Ryan Vineyard. With a rounded, elegant texture, beautiful acidity, and a terrific, lengthy finish, it opens up nicely with time in the glass and is just a complex, nuanced beauty to enjoy over the coming decade.

94 Points Wine & Spirits
Ryan is among the highest of the parcels on the property, planted in 1989. In 2017, its wine is lean and vinous, redolent of smoke and forest floor, the fruit sensuous and alluring, dark and plummy, with a demonstrative ripeness that remains elegant, acid-driven and energetic.

93 Points Wine Enthusiast
Baked cherry, star anise, clove and chai elements show on the ripe and spicy nose of this bottling, which was harvested after this vintage’s huge Labor Day heat spike. The wine is rich, heavy and layered on the palate, with black plum flavors coated in cardamom and sagebrush.

2017 Vintage Notes
A wet winter, with more than double our average annual rainfall, made for very happy vineyards in 2017. While budbreak arrived slightly later than usual, warm spring weather led to excellent fruit sets at our Mt. Harlan vineyards, with above-average yields for both Pinot Noir and our white varieties. Thanks to the abundant early season rains, and Mt. Harlan’s high elevation and marine-influenced climate, our estate vineyards weathered a significant Labor Day heat event wonderfully, producing complex and elegant wines, with beautifully balanced acids and sugars.

Calera’s Mt. Harlan Vineyards are located in the Gavilan Mountains 25 miles east of the Monterey Bay. The site was chosen for its limestone soils and ideal climate. At an average elevation of 2,200 feet it is among the highest and coolest vineyard sites in California.

Wine Notes
On the nose, inviting aromas of jasmine, yellow plum and cherry hard candy beckon a first sip. As the wine unfurls on the palate, the flavors grow deeper and more complex, offering layers of dark cherry, cola and black licorice that glide across soft, round tannins to a lush, lingering finish.

100% Pinot Noir. Alcohol 14.8%