1 | Wine | Central Coast, $20 to $50, 86 or higher

"Calera’s 2011 Pinot Noir Central Coast wafts from the glass with freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries and mint. This is a fairly laid-back vintage for the wine, with less of the pure breed of the 2009 and 2010, but frankly that may be an unfair comparison as those wines were superb over achievers. The 2011 is more an inline performer. The tense, saline finish laced with pretty floral and spiced notes is lovely."

"The pure ripe plum and black cherry fruit joins spice and wilted rose notes for a complex, delicate mix of flavors, gaining on the finish."

"Dark ruby. Blackberry, cherry and sassafras on the pungent nose. Fleshy and expansive, offering deep red and dark berry flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. Picks up spiciness with air and finishes on a smoky, slightly bitter dark berry note, with good thrust and persistence. This assertive pinot could handle richer foods."

"This is a richer, deeper style than the Rincon. Layers of dark cherries and plums emerge from this fleshy, pliant Pinot Noir. The inner sweetness and perfume weave through effortlessly to a round, inviting finish."

"Subtle and intense, with a pure, juicy core of blackberry and raspberry, offering spicy oak and floral notes. Gains on the long finish."

"Light gold. Musky aromas of orchard and pit fruits, toasty lees and butter. Sweet and full but vibrant too, with suavely integrated acidity leavening the ripe pear and nectarine flavors. Spreads out on the back end without any loss of vivacity. Finishes ripe and smooth, with lingering smokiness and excellent persistence."

"A pretty, gracious wine, the 2010 Pinot Noir shows the more elegant, feminine side of Pinot. Crushed flowers and red berries are some of the nuances that take shape in the glass. Despite its mid-weight personality, there is no shortage of depth in the aromas and flavors. This is a gorgeous wine."

"Bright red. Sexy aromas of black raspberry, cinnamon, minerals and potpourri; smells like there are stems here but Kathy Joseph says no. Precise and vibrant on the palate, with good nervy cut to its intense flavors of candied red berries and spicecake. Still youthfully taut and bound-up but shows excellent potential. Turns more floral with air, finishing with tangy grip and a lingering hint of Asian spices. This pinot shows impressive vivacity for its warm vintage."

"In this vintage, the 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel is decidedly huge. An exciting array of dark red fruit, black cherries, incense and tar come together beautifully. At first large-scaled and sweeping in personality, the wine finds more refined registers on the finish, where floral notes add a measure of lift and finesse. Today, the 2010 is a baby, though."

"Good dark red. Aromas of blueberry, crushed black raspberry, brown spices, smoked meat, mocha and cocoa; smells like a northern Rhone wine from granite soil. Firm and energetic in the mouth, offering a nice balance of fresh dark fruits and smoky minerality. Bright acidity and a note of black pepper give the palate a zesty quality. Finishes lightly saline, juicy and persistent, with spicy tannins." -Stephen Tanzer