Kapyrick Wine

9.0

v18. Pretty good. Toasty vanilla nose. Creamy, tropical and pear fruit. Bright, soft oak and mineral finish. — 3 years ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

9.0

Medium body, well balanced. Good. Bought with JAL points. — 3 years ago

C. Cole

9.2

First Peay from the WS portfolio and truly enjoyable. Sweet rhubarb and cherry with earthy spices. First of a 2008 pairing from top wineries, and I think it bested the Calera. — 4 years ago

Rich Bluth

9.0

great expression of Pinot, love Santa Cruz Mountain wine. — 5 years ago

Shawn R

9.5

Consistent time after time. I believe at this point the Hyde vineyard was transitioned to the Calera Clone. In a great place right now yet has another 10 years ahead of it, easy. While the fruit is there if your looking for a fruit bomb keep shopping. — 6 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

Pillow Rd. Vineyard is situated to the southwest of Sebastopol, not far from the southern tip of the Russian River Valley, and planted to two acres of Chardonnay and seven acres of Pinot Noir. Clones 777, 115, and Pommard made up the first plantings in 2000, with Calera and Swan being added later (replacing Gravenstein apple trees). The vineyard has courted her fair share of suitors, originally being one of Duckhorn’s sources for its Goldeneye Pinot Noir. The first commercial vintage under the Pillow Rd. label was 2006. I’m not sure whether Ladera had entered the scene at that point, but it was definitely in time for their release of the 2009 vintage. In 2016 PlumpJack Group acquired Ladera’s Howell Mountain vineyard and winemaking facility, and while it appears the Pillow Rd. Vineyard wasn’t included in that sale, I haven’t seen anything that spells that out explicitly. Regardless, what is certain is that Napa Cab makers can’t quit this Russian River Pinot vineyard. It had some kinks to work out, but ultimately it’s built for pleasure and not complexity, and it eventually got there. Cherry cola, sassafras, baking spice, butterscotch, and just enough of a citrus edge to keep from losing its balance. — 6 years ago

Greg Gosselin

9.2

Delicious, impeccable chard. Stellar producer. — 3 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.2

This is the new Calera Clone, a mighty fine effort for 1st bottling. Petaluma Gap — 3 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.0

Like a flabby-ish Calera single vineyard. Killler value for $5 at gross out. — 4 years ago

Deb Dellaposta

9.0

High acid and medium plus tannins threw me off - aged on some new French oak - cranberry, black tea, cloves — 5 years ago

with Ryan

Rich Bluth

9.1

Great wine from Calera who is consistently in the top tier! — 6 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Really needs large stemware to settle down & integrate- otherwise sweet fruits stay predominantly forward. Some idea of its true nature in last glass. Thanksgiving part 3 — 6 years ago

Sean S

9.0

Gordon $35 — 7 years ago

Perry Riddle

9.1

Stunning. — 3 years ago

with Steven

Jim Maynard

9.2

Very well made and complex. Has aged well. 2012 vintage. Reminded me of a single vineyard Calera Pinot. Seek out this producer. — 3 years ago

ShayShayShaylyn

9.8

Love this chardonnay so much. Crisp and mineral. Not oaky. — 4 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.4

Pale ruby color. Expressive nose of rose petals, potpourri, leather, cherries, spices, and herbs from stem inclusion. Beautiful balance evident on the palate which cranberry and bitter cherry accompanied by dusty tannins and only 12.5% ABV. Made from a lot planted to Calera and Mt. Eden cloneswith 90% whole cluster inclusion. $80. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

What a Friday group tasting put on by Dan! Killer wines. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 5 reds, 1 dessert. All blind.

I guessed Cali Pinot here, and assumed it was mid-2000s, so I got both of those but got convinced this was a Calera. This had a bit more cola and cedar/spice than the other pinots after it. — 6 years ago

with Dan and Weston

Nathan Wegener

9.3

Golden yellow colour. Floral and butter notes. Mango and peach with a rich mouthfeel — 6 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Alban Vineyards as they state in their label "The first American winery & vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties." This Syrah has settled in nicely after 10 years in bottle. I would say it's peaking. On the nose; scorched earth, sweet & slowly baked; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries and dark cherries. Mint, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed rocks, loamy top soil and lilacs, violets and lavender. The palate is rich and nicely resolved. The body medium-medium plus. The fruits are ripe, creamy and juicy; blackberries, blueberries, black raspberries, plum, huckleberries, dark cherries and strawberries haunt the long fruit set. Mint, eucalyptus, sage, smoked meat, milk chocolate, black olive, notes of liqueur, crushed dry rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, scorched earth, a little bacon fat, underbrush, a whiff of black pepper, lilacs, violets and lavender, great rich, round, fresh acidity with a very good, long, balanced, well structured, finish with length and staying power. I prefer this over the Cayuse I had a couple of weeks ago. Much better balance of fruit, earth, etc.. photos of their Edna Valley vineyard, fruit that needs netting to protect it from the birds, John Alban and the Alban barrel room. Producer notes and history...In 1985, John Alban planted grapes for other people until he bought an estate in 1989. He focused on wines made from Rhône Valley varietals. Alban is one of the pioneers of the Rhone Rangers movement. They are considered to one of the more influential American Rhone producers. In beginning to grow Viognier, Alban said, "I almost single-handedly doubled the world's acreage," referring to a time when its cultivation was reduced to 50 acres or 20 ha in two areas of the Rhône Valley, Condrieu and Château-Grillet. Alban's work, along with that of Josh Jensen of Calera Wine Company (just sold to Duckhorn, ugh!) in San Benito County, helped to significantly expand plantings of Viognier in California at a time when the variety was near extinction. Alban has 250-acre or 100 ha under vine. Their vineyard area extends 60 acres or 24 ha, planted with Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne. The Alban wines produced are; Lorraine Vineyard, Reva Vineyard Syrah, Seymour's Vineyard Syrah, Patrina Alban Estate Syrah and Pandora, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. They also used to produce a dessert wine from 5% botrytis grapes and aged in 50% new oak, called Rotten Luck. You can still find past vintages on Wine-Searcher. — 7 years ago