Lompoc September 2020

Since COVID restrictions have relaxed to the point where we can taste wine with low risk outdoors, we took the opportunity to visit Longoria and Melville. It wasn't a return to normal--nor should it be--but it was nice to finally taste through a lineup in a regular fashion.

• 2019 Longoria Pinot Grigio

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Tasted at Longoria tasting room. Enjoyable Pinot Grigio, pear, mid-weight, balanced acidity, clean finish.

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• 2015 Longoria Chardonnay Cuvée Diana

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Tasted at Longoria tasting room. Reductive aromas--matchstick. Structured with high acidity, lemon curd, citrus. Probably will age very well, but not my style.

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• 2016 Longoria Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Tasted at Longoria tasting room. Structured, backward Pinot Noir, needs at least 3 years, possibly 5-8. Concentrated, plenty of raw material in terms of dark fruit, sage, spice, and oak. Still needs to integrate the oak at this stage, though it's in balance with the depth of the wine. Recommended for those with cellars, will probably go somewhere interesting, profound, but needs patience, or perhaps an extended decant.

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• 2016 Longoria Blues Cuvée

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Tasted at Longoria tasting room. Open for business, but should improve with mid-term age. Mix of black fruit, tobacco, and oak accents. Earth and ripe fruit mix on the finish. Drink or hold, I'll aim to keep a couple to see where they're at in the 10 year range.

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• 2017 Melville Chardonnay Estate

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Tasted at Melville tasting room. I like what Melville is doing with their Chardonnay program. Plenty of richness, but eschews the ponderous style: no new oak or ML. Aged sur lies in barrel, this is just a really well composed, complete and enjoyable Chard.

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• 2017 Melville Pinot Noir Estate

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Tasted at Melville tasting room. Wide open, impressive, effusive. I agree with Matt Mauldin, this is a strong vintage for this wine. Whole cluster house style is a big factor, but this is a wine that has a compelling beginning, middle and end. If you like a floral, ripely herbaceous wine, this is a winner. Drink or hold, one to enjoy while the small lot cuvees open up.

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• 2018 Melville Pinot Noir Estate Sandy's

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Tasted at Melville tasting room. Floral, spicy whole cluster aromas, red fruited, structured, needs several years, 3-5 ideally. Should be great, but not quite open for business yet.

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• 2018 Melville Pinot Noir Anna's Block

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Tasted at Melville tasting room. Hold for 3-5 years, tight at this juncture. A bit denser than the Sandy's in this vintage. Red fruit and spicy whole cluster character.

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• 2015 Melville Syrah High Density

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Tasted at Melville tasting room. White pepper and floral nose, viscous quality on the palate. I liked, R not so much. Feels more driven by the cool climate Syrah fruit than the whole cluster house style.

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• 2017 Melville Syrah Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  I can see this being polarizing due to the stem inclusion, but for my taste this is top notch. Tea, white pepper, boysenberry, tobacco, lavender and spice aromas, wide open even at a young age. Mid-weight, great mixture of red fruit and spicy, herbaceous flavors. Very long finish, mild tannins. Great now, should age/integrate in the mid-term, at minimum, perhaps longer on balance. 2017 seems to be a good vintage for cool climate Syrah in Santa Barbara County.

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