Calera Pinot Noir Mills 2017

Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard 2017 is a refined, single-vineyard expression from California’s Central Coast, crafted by one of the true pioneers of American Pinot Noir. Aged 17 months in French oak (30% new), this vintage captures the elegance, perfume, and tension that have made Calera’s wines so sought after. Named after the Mills Vineyard, it offers a distinctive glimpse into the character of Calera’s high-altitude limestone sites, which have been shaping the estate’s legacy since the 1970s.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2017 Mills Pinot Noir shows a light to medium ruby hue, shimmering with clarity and delicacy. The nose is beautifully lifted and aromatic, opening with floral notes that mingle with bright cranberry, fresh raspberry, orange zest, and hints of tea leaf and potpourri, all framed by a subtle saline note and a gentle earthiness. On the palate, this is a light to medium-bodied Pinot Noir with a graceful, airy texture and fine-grained tannins. Red berry fruit—cranberry and raspberry—takes center stage, supported by savory tea-like nuances and a whisper of spice from the French oak. The acidity is juicy and refreshing, carrying the flavors through a long, lifted finish that feels precise and energetic rather than heavy. Already highly enjoyable, this wine has the structure and balance to evolve gracefully over the next 7–10 years, gaining more complexity and integrating its floral and earthy nuances even further.

Production
Sourced from the Mills Vineyard in California’s Central Coast, this Pinot Noir benefits from Calera’s hallmark combination of elevation, cool climate, and limestone-rich soils—conditions that naturally favor finesse and freshness over power. The grapes are harvested by hand to ensure careful selection of only the best clusters, preserving the purity of fruit and the delicacy of the variety. In the cellar, traditional, gentle vinification techniques are employed to highlight the vineyard’s character rather than overwhelm it: fermentation proceeds with close attention to temperature and extraction, followed by 17 months of maturation in French oak barrels, 30% of which are new. This measured use of oak adds subtle structure and aromatic complexity without masking the wine’s naturally graceful profile. Limited production, with just 1,046 cases made, underscores the wine’s artisanal, site-driven focus.

Food & Serving
This elegant Pinot Noir is a versatile partner at the table, particularly well-suited to dishes that mirror its finesse and aromatic lift. Try it with roast duck breast, herb-crusted pork tenderloin, mushroom risotto, or cedar-planked salmon; it will also shine alongside game birds, charcuterie, and earthy vegetable dishes featuring beets, lentils, or root vegetables. Serve at 14–16°C (57–61°F) to emphasize its freshness and aromatic detail. A short decant of 20–30 minutes can help the wine unfurl its floral and spicy nuances, especially in its youth, but it can also be enjoyed straight from the bottle in a large Burgundy-style glass.

Producer
Founded in the 1970s by Josh Jensen, Calera is widely regarded as one of the benchmark producers of Pinot Noir in California and a trailblazer for the Central Coast. Jensen was among the first to recognize the potential of limestone soils and cool, elevated sites in this region for crafting Pinot Noirs with Old World–like structure and minerality. Over the decades, Calera’s single-vineyard bottlings—such as Mills, Jensen, and Reed—have earned a reputation for their purity, longevity, and distinct sense of place. Today, Calera remains an important reference point for terroir-driven American Pinot Noir, consistently praised by critics and collectors alike for its dedication to quality and its role in elevating the Central Coast on the global wine stage.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.