United States Pinot Noir Wine between $25 and $50 ()

Sleek and slender, but fleshy enough to deliver cinnamon-accented cherry flavors, showing a hint of coffee as the finish lingers. Deftly balanced. Drink now through 2017. -- 90 points, Wine Spectator

Calera's 2011 Pinot Noir Central Coast wafts from the glass with freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries and mint. This is a fairly laid-back vintage for the wine, with less of the pure breed of the 2009 and 2010, but frankly that may be an unfair comparison as those wines were superb over achievers. The 2011 is more an inline performer. The tense, saline finish laced with pretty floral and spiced notes is lovely. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018.

Open and immediately accessible, this is fragrant and gently floral, with clearly defined varietal character. It opens beautifully into an elegant, aromatic and crisply structured wine, with excellent length.

Bing cherry, plums, and exotic spices on the nose. Framed by fine, textured tannins that lead to a creamy palate of red berries, bramble, black fruit, and dark chocolate. Balanced acidity throughout that finishes long with tobacco and wood spice.

Reflecting - in comparison with Ponzis? ?Tavola? bottling - older vines from Laurelwood soils including two estate sites, their 2010 Pinot Noir displays purple plum and sour cherry with an undertone of marrow-rich beef stock. There is a slight, almost horseradish-like bite in the finish that adds to the stimulation and saliva-inducement of a Pinot apt to give renewed pleasure over at least the next 4-5 years.