Winemaker Notes

Vintage after vintage, de Villiers yields one of Calera’s most voluptuous and dark-fruited expressions of Pinot Noir, and the 2015 vintage is no exception! Aromas of brambly blackberry, cocoa and chamomile hint at this wine’s explosive depth. On the palate, a lush, mouth-filling texture and age-worthy tannins frame gorgeous layers of black cherry and silky red currant that resonate on the long finish.

96 Points - Tasting Panel

From the remote Gabilan Mountains on California’s Central Coast, this high-elevation Pinot Noir from approximately 2,200 feet above sea level features some of the oldest vines in the region. Calera is one of the only wineries in the world to “own” its entire appellation, similar to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy, where Calera founder Josh Jensen worked in the early 1970s before launching Calera in 1975. This curvy, dark-fruited wine opens with earth and bramble, while black raspberry and root beer get perked up by white pepper and blackberry-laden cedar. It’s hefty, but dreamy.

95 Points - Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

COMMENTARY: I have limited experience with the Calera's de Villiers Pinot Noir bottling. I found this wine quite attractive and almost different. Perhaps it is an even more Burgundy-like effort than the winery's usual. Well, Josh Jensen is a unique and iconoclastic vintner. The 2015 Calera de Villiers is in a class by itself. TASTING NOTES: This wine is beautifully balanced in every way. Its aromas and flavors are bright, zesty, and true. Pair its red fruit goodness with a simple roast chicken.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast

Deep and meaty on the nose, this 40th anniversary bottling offers black plum, dried violet and roasted meat aromas. Mulberry, strawberry and plum flavors show on the wild palate, which is lifted by elements of pine needle, dried sage and mint.