November 5, 2023 - 1hr decant. Expressive nose of red cherry, cranberry, vanilla (oak comes through). Bright & tart up front, but it mellowed out over the course of the evening. Drinks well with some air, but would also benefit from a couple of years in the cellar.
April 7, 2023 - Tart, with notes of smoke and spice, dried cranberry, and tobacco. Nicely balanced.
January 28, 2023 - Literally made my mouth water smelling it from the glass--Kalamata olive, smoked game, basil oil, white pepper, violet. The level of complexity is mind warping--as it opens up, roasted peppers, thyme, mulberry, and a sanguine character come into play. Mid-weight, medium plus acidity, rounded mid-palate, herbaceous finish. Ripe, but grippy tannins, with a mild bitterness on the finish that didn't shake fully with air.
I am increasingly thinking this vintage needs like 5-7 years to knit together, with the 'raw' flavors and ripping acidity likely to integrate. The finish held back this bottle a bit (and very well could improve), but otherwise this was like a M.C. Escher or perhaps a Hieronymus Bosch for the gustatory senses.
November 25, 2022 - Tasting Room visit. Aromas of black cherry & plum, peppercorn, mint, mesquite smoke, five spice. Dense and complex on the palate, fresh red and dark fruit with lavender, black tea spices and pepper. Medium bodied, finely textured, dense, with nice acid and round fleshy tannins and nice intensity and length to the finish.
October 25, 2022 - Green and savory fruit. A little bit more tart and hard and green. In its own way of still having Cali fruit and some lushness to it. Most concentrated and biggest wine they are telling me. I'm told it begs for food and actually, I betcha it would be pretty awesome with some food.
August 21, 2022 - Moderate sized pour at tasting room. Consistent with prior note, though worth adding the nose really emphasized incense-like lavender and violets, alongside primary, almost grapey aromas. Really enveloping, deep and layered from nose to finish . . . .
August 16, 2022 - Medium purple color; curious nose of dill and leather overwhelming any fruit aromas. Full bodied heavy unpleasant flavors
June 13, 2022 - Dark ruby red in appearance. Savory and meaty on the nose with black pepper and a hint of greenery. Medium tannins (6.5/10) with a medium plus to full body. Black fruits on the palate with bacon fat and a little spice. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2032.
May 20, 2022 - Melville Spring 2022 Pickup Tasting (Melville Santa Barbara Tasting Room): Deep, complex whole cluster aromas, on top of lavender and mulberry. Enveloping palate, concentrated, structured, mixes deep cool climate Syrah character with whole cluster profile. Drink or hold, great now or for a decade plus.
March 1, 2022 - Peppery Syrah. Strong wine. Paired really well worth steak and a peppercorn truffle sauce.