John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.8

Insane like before! — 2 years ago

Shengli Hu

8.9

Couldn't find entry, logging Stella Sonoma Coast Pinot 2017 here: 225 and Calera clones. Elevated acidity, med tannins. Cola nuts, faint herbs, red plums, blackberry, med+/elevated concentration, overripe strawberry, black tea bag, lavender, tomato, stony characters. ~13% abv. 2017 was super hot in Sonoma, >100 degree heat spikes in June-July cause vines to shut down, rapid ripening more akin to Oregon of erratic growing season (whereas usually California boasts of constant long growing season). Gravel loam soil. 10-40% whole cluster, hand punchdowns, stem inclusion. Foot treaded. WC raises pH as high acid -> more stem inclusion to balance the pH. Failla picks on pH at ~23-24 Brix which would be a bit too high. — 3 years ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

9.0

Medium body, well balanced. Good. Bought with JAL points. — 4 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. — 6 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.1

medium violet; plum, violets, licorice, mint, baking spices; dark fruit; medium tannin, medium+ acidity, 14.2% ABV; made from 100% organically grown Pinot Noir, 50% whole cluster, fermented with native yeasts, aged 20 months in 30% new French oak; $32 for 375 mL — 6 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. — 7 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. — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. Swan & Calera clones if correctly remembering. Some chunky/earthy/grounding power frontal and mid-palate slightly thinning out on a concentrated finish. Really nice acidity/tannins for balance with the fruit punch. 4.13.23. — 2 years ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

v18. Pretty good. Toasty vanilla nose. Creamy, tropical and pear fruit. Bright, soft oak and mineral finish. — 4 years ago

Steve Gerths

9.2

This is the new Calera Clone, a mighty fine effort for 1st bottling. Petaluma Gap — 4 years ago

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. — 5 years ago

ShayShayShaylyn

9.8

Love this chardonnay so much. Crisp and mineral. Not oaky. — 6 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 — 7 years ago

with Ryan

Rich Bluth

9.1

Great wine from Calera who is consistently in the top tier! — 7 years ago

Rich Bluth

9.3

rare to find a Chard as balanced as this one — 3 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.6

Stupid good! — 3 years ago

with Ross

Perry Riddle

9.1

Stunning. — 4 years ago

with Steven

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. — 5 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. — 6 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. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Weston