After a brief decant (would have preferred at least an hour): purple/ red in color, and fairly clear. Top color suggests this wine is close to past it's prime. Good, slow legs. A nice, mild aroma; some cherry and red currant. On the tongue, Balanced tastes of the red currant, plum, and hint of tangerine. A very nice but short finish... overall very good.
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I have been a fan of Melville since my first visit to Sta Rita Hills however many years ago. On that "maiden voyage" I received a hot tip to visit the winery where I was immediately impressed by both the quality and value. This is the last bottle of Melville I have in the cellar, so I might need to go and find more post-haste. This wine was clearly as good as I remember with good fruit, a bit of earth, and plenty of memories. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Brick red with low to medium optical density. Excellent intensity on the nose, with bright cherry, strawberry, cola, and underlying savory spices (like garden herbs fried in butter). Evolves in the glass to give earthy mushroom as well. Hits the palate with refreshing acidity, medium plus body, and rounded tannins that are present enough to provide structure and a smooth, clean mouthfeel, and the wine is very dry, even though it yields sensations of sweet fruit (i.e., I don't sense much residual sugar, but there is a lot of fruit). The texture shows nice viscosity and a bit of chewiness in a very lovely and pleasurable way. Flavours on the attack give bright cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and pomegranate fruit with underlying herbs. The midpalate shows some smoky and savory notes come on, with more emphasis on the herbs. The finish is more smoke and herbs (along with just a touch of heat), with good length and leaves lingering herbs, fruit, and worn leather flavours with a clean mouthfeel. Really nice wine- excellently made, and it does seem to have sense of elegance and expression of the variety, but also with excellent complexity and intensity- quite an achievement. Also shows excellent evolution in the glass, for many layers of sensual pleasure.
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I was poised to give this an 89 and thought, what the hell am I thinking? This is a damn good Cali PN for under $25. Fruit forward, yes. Spicy on the finish, true. It lacks the gravely, satiny fineness of French Burgundy, but so what? This is a great red, food friendly, and really excellent QPR.
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8/20/2021 - michaelbro8 Likes this wine: 91 Points
After a brief decant (would have preferred at least an hour): purple/ red in color, and fairly clear. Top color suggests this wine is close to past it's prime. Good, slow legs. A nice, mild aroma; some cherry and red currant. On the tongue, Balanced tastes of the red currant, plum, and hint of tangerine. A very nice but short finish... overall very good.
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3/24/2019 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have been a fan of Melville since my first visit to Sta Rita Hills however many years ago. On that "maiden voyage" I received a hot tip to visit the winery where I was immediately impressed by both the quality and value. This is the last bottle of Melville I have in the cellar, so I might need to go and find more post-haste. This wine was clearly as good as I remember with good fruit, a bit of earth, and plenty of memories. thedrunkencyclist.com
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5/8/2018 - Minnesota wrote: 93 Points
This wine has really come into a lovely drinking window since last tasted three years ago. Soft tannins, unctuous mouthfeel, classic cherry notes.
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4/1/2016 - ajbergren wrote: 92 Points
Brick red with low to medium optical density. Excellent intensity on the nose, with bright cherry, strawberry, cola, and underlying savory spices (like garden herbs fried in butter). Evolves in the glass to give earthy mushroom as well. Hits the palate with refreshing acidity, medium plus body, and rounded tannins that are present enough to provide structure and a smooth, clean mouthfeel, and the wine is very dry, even though it yields sensations of sweet fruit (i.e., I don't sense much residual sugar, but there is a lot of fruit). The texture shows nice viscosity and a bit of chewiness in a very lovely and pleasurable way. Flavours on the attack give bright cherry, raspberry, strawberry, and pomegranate fruit with underlying herbs. The midpalate shows some smoky and savory notes come on, with more emphasis on the herbs. The finish is more smoke and herbs (along with just a touch of heat), with good length and leaves lingering herbs, fruit, and worn leather flavours with a clean mouthfeel. Really nice wine- excellently made, and it does seem to have sense of elegance and expression of the variety, but also with excellent complexity and intensity- quite an achievement. Also shows excellent evolution in the glass, for many layers of sensual pleasure.
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2/1/2016 - drdebs Likes this wine: 90 Points
I was poised to give this an 89 and thought, what the hell am I thinking? This is a damn good Cali PN for under $25. Fruit forward, yes. Spicy on the finish, true. It lacks the gravely, satiny fineness of French Burgundy, but so what? This is a great red, food friendly, and really excellent QPR.
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