1 | Wine | Pinot Noir, $20 to $50, 86 or higher

"Fresh boysenberry and purple plum are garlanded with bitter-sweet flowers; tinged with brown spices; underlain with clean red meatiness; and suffused with saliva-liberating salinity in a Pinot of refined tannins and outstanding persistence."

"Spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry, sassafras and anise, with a smoky nuance building with air. Sappy and expansive, offering dark berry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of vanilla. Closes with very good breadth and focus, leaving vanilla and peppery spice notes behind."

"Polished, subtle and juicy, with floral strawberry and guava flavors, lingering gently on the open-textured finish."

"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."

"With a somewhat fresher and very red pinot-infused nose that is followed by detailed, intense and firm medium-bodied flavors that possess good energy and punch on the mouth coating and somewhat linear finish. I like this as it has good development potential as well as a bit more mid-palate flesh though it is not a classic young Beaune as the mouth feel is somewhat stern."
Reviewed by: Allan Meadows

"Light, bright red. Red berry and floral scents are complemented by cinnamon and black tea. Racy and light on its feet, offering vibrant redcurrant and strawberry flavors and a touch of bitter herbs. Finishes tangy and lucid, leaving spice and floral notes behind."

"Tight, focused and juicy, with blackberry and currant fruit playing against mineral flavors and tangy acidity as the finish lingers enticingly."

"Adding Johan Vineyard to the roster of four sites that informed this cuvee’s previous edition, the Ransom 2010 Pinot Noir Selection – tasted in a close approximation to its final assemblage – delivers downright refreshingly as well as invigoratingly tangy red currant and fraises des bois, tinged with coriander seed, nutmeg, and rose hip. Buoyant to the point of delicacy, this finishes with mouthwatering persistence and is sure on release to represent an outstanding value that can be enjoyed over at least the next half dozen years."