Recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wines, and Many More. Check out our recent Press.

Award-winning NYC wine shop – free local delivery & fast nationwide shipping. Learn more

Calera, Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard, 1995

Red Wine from California, United States
by Calera
$139.00
Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout.
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles

Josh Jensen spent two years combing geological surveys for limestone in California because he came home from harvests in Burgundy convinced the rock was the whole point - and Mt. Harlan, high in the Gabilan Mountains south of Hollister, is what he found. Mills is one of the six vineyards he planted there, put in the ground in 1984 and named for John Everett Mills, who built the works for the property's old limestone operation, with vines sitting at about 2,200 feet on limestone-rich soil that keeps yields tiny. Calera's method never changed: whole-cluster fermentation with ambient yeast, aging in French oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered - wines designed to reward a decade or two of patience. At thirty-one years this bottle, sourced from a private cellar, is fully mature and should be drunk rather than held. Stand it upright a day ahead, decant gently off the sediment, and enjoy it over the first hour or two.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • Corked wine? Full refund or exchange within 60 days
  • Damaged shipment? Contact us within 48 hours
  • Storage or quality concerns? We're here to help


View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Sunday - Thursday: 12 pm - 8 pm

Friday: 11am - 9pm

Saturday: 10am - 9pm

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (212) 477-1315

Antonio Galloni

85 points

"Palish brick-red, with modest saturation. Aromas of strawberry, cherry, cocoa powder and coffee grounds. Supple, somewhat dull red fruit flavors of modest intensity. Slight suggestion of dilution. Finishes with a dry edge, but tannins are light. I found the '95 Reed pinot marred by a strong rhubarb aroma and a sourness on the finish, while the red berry and smoked meat aromas and flavors of the Jensen release were overshadowed by vegetal truffle and asparagus notes. The '95 Selleck pinot showed rhubarb and strawberry jam aromas; though quite concentrated, it was marred by sickly-sweet flavors and a dry finish. All three of these pinots showed distinct signs of underripe fruit." —Stephen Tanzer

Robert Parker

77 points

"The 1995 is extremely herbaceous and green, with pinched, compressed flavors, medium body, and notes of tobacco, Provencal herbs, and green tea. Some sweet fruit is present on the palate, but the finish is short as well as abrupt. This is one of my least favorite of the Mills Pinot Noirs." —Robert M. Parker, Jr.

More about Calera

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Pinot Noir

  • Vintage

    1995

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Organic

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

What has to say about this wine:

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Roast chicken with mushrooms, duck breast with cherries, mushroom risotto, or a plate of soft washed-rind cheeses. Keep the cooking simple and let the wine talk.

Tasting Profile

Fully evolved Pinot: dried cherry, orange peel, forest floor, tea leaf and a savory, meaty edge. Medium-bodied and silky, tannins long since resolved, acidity still lively, finish delicate and lingering.

More wines from Calera

View all