2012 De Villiers Pinot Noir

The 2012 Pinot Noir de Villiers Vineyard is beautifully focused and precise. Dark blue and black stone fruits, cloves, mint and lavender are all pushed forward in a supple, juicy Pinot built on a real sense of immediacy. As always, the de Villiers is the most open-knit of the Calera Pinots. The 2012 was done with 50% whole clusters and remains the only wine in the Calera range that is not fermented with 100% stems.

I loved the 2012 Pinot Noir de Villiers. It's a beautifully complete, balanced and satisfying Pinot Noir that does everything right. Giving up tons of sweet black raspberry and strawberry fruits, spice-box, dried flowers and potpourri characteristics, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, with a ripe, supple texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. While there's more than enough fruit to keep this enjoyable now, there's some solid tannin and depth in there as well, so it will age. Aug 2015, www.robertparker.com