2014 Pinot Noir - Melville Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
94 Points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2014 Melville's bright red-toned fruit, orange zest, mint and rose petal lead into a seamless, silky finish. It is a wine of exceptional beauty and finesse. The balance of fruit, acid and tannin is impeccable. - Lily Hays, Direct to Consumer Business Manager
Tasting notes
The 2014 Melville's bright red-toned fruit, orange zest, mint and rose petal lead into a seamless, silky finish. It is a wine of exceptional beauty and finesse. The balance of fruit, acid and tannin is impeccable.
Production notes
Grapes were hand-harvested from Melville Vineyard from the same 6 rows of loamy, clay soil. 50% whole cluster fermentation in small lots (2 tons). Like always, we relied on the native yeast that the grapes carried from the vineyards to complete the fermentation. We hand punched each fermentor twice a day to enhance the extraction of colors, tannins and flavors. After primary fermentation was complete we extended maceration for up to 30-35 days to further extract color, tannins and flavor. Pressed with ultra-gentle stainless steel basket press in an 8-hour cycle. Aged in 30% new French oak for 22 months prior to bottling, no fining or filtering with two rackings before bottling.and then another year in bottle prior to releasing.
Varietal | 100% Pinot Noir |
Varietal Composition | Clones 667 & Pommard |
Appellation | Sta. Rita Hills |
Vineyard | Melville Vineyard |
Acid | 0.60 |
PH | 3.51 |
Aging | 34 months |
Fermentation | Native Yeast |
Alcohol | 14.20% |
Wine Style | 30% new French oak; 50% Whole Cluster : unfined & |
Volume | 750 ml |
Cases Produced | 101 |
93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2014 Melville is a blend of Clone 667 and Pommard, It's a big, sweetly fruited beauty readers are going to love. Framboise, red currants, salty minerality and hints of dusty/loamy notes flow to a ripe, sexy, mouth-filling Pinot Noir that has sweet tannin and a great finish. It has loads of character, a big sweet core of fruit, and will drink nicely through 2026 - Jeb Dunnuck (June 2017)
93+ Points - The Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Melville Vineyard is very sublte on the nose, revealing gentle pomegranate and rhubarb nuances with fragrant earth and moss hints. Medium-bodied, with the fruit and earth layers tightly wound and compressed like a spring, it has a firm backbone of chewy tannins and great freshness, finishing with lingering herb and mineral notes. Give this beaury good 2 years in bottle and drink it over the next 8-10 years+. Anticipated maturity 2019-2029 - The Wine Advocate (Sept. 2017)
94 Points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous