Calera 2008 California Chardonnay Wine Review; Central Coast, California

Loving Calera; Loving Limestone; but not the Chardonnay

First, once again, I have to preface this Chardonnay wine review by saying, I am not a huge fan of California Chardonnays. I’m just not. I don’t know why, but there is just a certain taste that comes from a Chardonnay that does not make my mouth happy under normal circumstances. Hence, you can pretty much ignore how I feel about this wine.

Really Love the Calera Winery and What They Do

The Calera Winery has been growing their own Chardonnay grapes since 1984. Winemaker Josh Jensen spent over two years hunting for the perfect limestone filled land to grow his grapevines finally deciding on acreage 90 miles south of San Francisco and about 25 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.   In 1990 the U.S. government approved the Mt. Harlan American Viticultural Area where Calera is the only vineyards and Jensen truly became king of his own limestone mountain.   

The several million tons of limestone deposit of greatly influences not only the wine, but the whole winery as “Calera” is the Spanish world for “limekiln As limestone had been commercially quarried from the property 100 years earlier, the evidenced is proven by the  recently restored 30 foot tall masonry calera, This also serves as the winery’s symbol, name and appears on every bottle of wine.

The Central Coast Chardonnay

Calera’s least expensive Chardonnay, the 2008 Central Coast, is not from the top of the mountain, but rather from an assortment of vineyards in Monterey, Santa Clara, and San Benito counties.  After going through 100% malolactic fermentation giving the Chardonnay it’s tell tale buttery smoothness. The cuvee  is then aged in 10% new French oak for ten months which, of course, allows for the tasty oak touches that make a great Chardonnay.

The 2008 Central Coast Chardonnay earned Wine Advocate Rating of 90 and was listed on Vinography’s Best Wines of the Year Top 100.   Wine & Spirits Magazine named Calera Artisan wineries of the year in 2008 while the San Francisco Chronicle called Josh Jensen the 2007 Winemaker of the Year.  All their Mt. Harlan Vineyards are 100% organic and the wine had one of those great eco friendly glass wine corks.

I Loved the Glass Cork, I Want to Like the Chardonnay

Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it all that much, but please remember; I don’t like Chardonnays and the 2008 Central Coast is what one would expect and desire from a Chardonnay. For me, I could feel the butteryness, but had trouble finding the subtle nose and deeper tastes that went under it.

According to others with a taste for Chardonnay, in 2008 Central Coast, one should be finding: 

• Notes of honeysuckle
• Orange marmalade
• White currants
• Tropical fruits.
• No evidence of its wood aging or a touch of toasty oak
• Aromas of ripe pineapple
• Scents of  honeysuckle
• A nose of apple
• Succulent lime zest.
• Taste of  vanilla custard
• Forward feels of lemon chiffon
• A soft, fun citrus zing
• A bit of brioche
• Full, round texture
• Silky, delicious finish

Blame the Wine Taster, not the Chardonnay!

I do blame myself for not being able to experience the full effect of the wine on my own.

As the wine opened more, I was feeling a bit of the pineapple and tropical fruits, but I did not, at the time credit the wine, as I was nibbling on some dried pineapples and mangos while sipping. I was hoping that the fruit would kick start my anti-chardonnay pallet, and then I blamed the fruit for the flavors!!

Bottom line, if you naturally enjoy a good California Chardonnay, then the 2008 Calera Central Coast Chardonnay is a great deal and a fine wine for you!  Priced now at $18.00 and holding its taste over the next 1-2 years it would also make a great gift during the holiday season. Most people, they like Chardonnay and would greatly enjoy it.

Tags: 2008 Central Coast Chardonnay, Calera 2008 California Chardonnay, Calera winery, California Chardonnays, Chardonnay Wine Review, Josh Jensen

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 5:32 pm and is filed under California Chardonnay. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post