95pts Wine Enthusiast

Exciting scents of sour cherries, mulled plums and baking spices fill the aroma of this complex and layered wine. Intricate nuances of cinnamon, nutmeg and mint emerge on the palate, complementing the broad fruit flavors. A full body is braced by mild acidity and soft tannins.

93pts Jeb Dunnuck

The 2021 Pinot Noir Calesa Vineyard boasts quite a bit more nuance and displays a reflective ruby red color. The nose opens to notes of crushed red raspberries, floral rosy perfume, fresh pine, and baking spice. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate with a ripe feel and a snappy lift of salinity on the finish.

Winemaker Notes

Named after its once pedestrian purpose, the vineyard was named "Calesa" meaning stagecoach in Spanish. Long ago this site, featuring expansive views of the Pacific, served as a resting stop for horse drawn carriages. Located in the newly minted Petaluma Gap AVA, Calesa vineyard sits in the "wind gap" or coastal mountain opening where direct coastal wind and cooler temperatures provide optimal growing conditions for Pinot Noir. The salty maritime wind and afternoon fog whisk in a chill that results in smaller grapes, thicker skins and a longer hang time. These factors nurture more concentrated flavor compounds.