Production Notes
Varietal Content: 100% Pinot Noir; Winemaking: 18 months, 100% French oak, 30% new, 10% second, 60% neutral
Winemaker Notes
With a northern exposure, Reed is always our last vineyard to ripen, yielding a beautifully aromatic Pinot Noir with soft, seamlessly integrated tannins and alluring red berry flavors. On the nose, aromas of juicy red cherry and strawberry are underscored by hints of tart rhubarb. The red fruit is echoed on the palate, where flavors of cranberry and pomegranate mingle with hints of white pepper and spice. Elegant and flowing, this is a wonderfully unique and thought-provoking expression of Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir.
Production
Though the 2015 growing season resulted in the earliest harvest ever at Calera, the quality of the vintage is exceptional, with our 2015 Mt. Harlan Pinot Noirs displaying elegant textures, with beautiful depth and complexity. A dry winter was followed by an early spring, which resulted in our vines blooming early, in mid-April. With little winter rainfall, 2015 also marked our fourth year of drought. While this led to lower-than-average yields, the small crop and a consistently warm summer ensured that the grapes ripened perfectly, with extremely well-balanced acid and Brix levels. Harvest began on August 26th with the majority of our grapes arriving in the winery in pristine condition by September 15th.