Vineyard: Melville

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Recent Sips of Pinot Noir (9.48 10/6/2014)
WOPN: 7th Heaven for Pinot Geeks (6.18 3/5/2007)
Brewer-Clifton Recent Retrospective (7.3 10/1/2008)
Small Sips of More California Pinot (7.17 5/7/2009)
Embarrassment of Riches: California (9.1 1/11/2012)
Sta. Rita Hills: California’s Best AVA for Chardonnay? (8.20 8/24/2010)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Samsara
Melville Vineyards & Winery
Brewer-Clifton

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2012 Melville Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., $36 (can be found discounted at retail). Released March 2014. 16 Pinot Noir clones. 40% whole cluster. 30 days skin and stem contact (7- day cold soak, 2+ weeks of fermentation and 1+ week of extended maceration). Aged sur lie in neutral French oak. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Appealing aromas of black raspberry, black peppercorn, spicy oak and old cask. Modest in weight with a good attack of darker berry and cherry fruits with accents of black tea, anise and savory herbs. A kiss of oak is complimentary. Nicely balanced with appealing elegance and up front appeal. Score: 90. Reviewed October 6, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Samsara Melville Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 120 cases, $48. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Very non-descriptive and reserved nose offering hints of forest floor and oak. Richly fruited and dense with flavors of black raspberries and Hoison sauce lingering on the fruit-filled finish. Big, slightly harsh tannins make this a fatiguing wine. Still tannic the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Needs protein (read steak) to neutralize the tannins. Decent. Reviewed January 11, 2012 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Melville Estate Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

14.9% alc., $20. · Straw yellow in the glass. Appealing aromas of buttered toast, honey and lemon curd. Rich and bright on the palate with a tasty core of green apple, peach and honeydew flavors and toasty oak in the background. Hi-tone acidity brightens the finish. Well-endowed and full-bodied, this is very California at heart. Very good. Reviewed August 24, 2010 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Melville Estate Verna’s Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $23 (sold out). Clones 2A, 667, 777 and 828. Yields were 1.9 tons per acre. 67% of fruit was de-stemmed and 33% fermented as whole clusters. Total skin and stem contact averaged 30 days. Aged in 18% new French oak. · The nose is similar to the regular Estate bottling with bit more raspberry and strawberry fruit and more persistent barnyard. Demure sweet dark red fruits with hints of tea and minty leaves. Mild dry tannins and brisk acidity on the finish. A simple wine that you don’t need to contemplate to enjoy. Reviewed May 7, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Melville Estate Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

15.3% alc., $32. 14 Pinot Noir clones. Yields were 1.7 tons per acre. 67% of fruit was de-stemmed and 33% fermented as whole clusters. Total skin and stem contact averaged 30 days. Aged in 16% new French oak. · This wine needs some time to open up in the glass. On the nose there are primarily dark red fruits with hints of oak spice and minerals. Tasty red berry fruit accented by tea and pepper drops off on the finish. Medium weighted with mild dry tannins and a good spark of acidity. Holds its alcohol well. The flavors trump the aromas at this stage. Reviewed May 7, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

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2005 Melville Carrie’s Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

This is also off the charts. There is a striking complexity to both in aromatics and flavors. The Terraces may be more red fruit inspired and the Carrie’s more dark fruit driven, but both are refined and stylish. Alcohols are hefty. Classy wax seals also. Reviewed March 5, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Melville Terraces Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

This is off the charts. There is a striking complexity to both in aromatics and flavors. The Terraces may be more red fruit inspired and the Carrie’s more dark fruit driven, but both are refined and stylish. Alcohols are hefty. Classy wax seals also. Reviewed March 5, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Brewer-Clifton Melville Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

15.6% alc., 144 cases. From vines planted in 1997 on clay-loam soil with clones 114 and 115. · Grapey nose with hints of smoky oak. Decent cherry and raspberry fruit which is subdued and rustic. Big-boned but not showy and one-dimensional. Much like a smoky grape popsicle. The tannins arrive with a rush at the end. Reviewed October 1, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »