March 15, 2021 - Flat and past prime
May 15, 2017 - Paired with an 02 in an all-pinot tasting and generally preferred by the group for better integrated flavors and dark, earthy fruit. Good showing.
April 30, 2017 - Dark red. Earthy dark fruit, very concentrated, notes of cedar, spice and tobacco. Delicious concentrated flab ours and a long dry finish. Could still improve.
September 25, 2011 - awesome
June 22, 2010 - My last 2003 and roughly 2 years since I drank an 03 Terraces. Much of what I commented on in the 2008 note has changed, with the wine seeming to soften both the whole cluster, as well as meld the parts. This is a dark wine, so don't look for pale red in color--more syrah in color than pinot. Has the signature Melville bouquet, which I have always enjoyed and continue to appreciate: lifted, precise with a hint still of stems and perfumey. The palate is full weight, with lots of ripe plum, blueberry and a good dose of pine needle. A bit chunky due to the weight and texture but the alcohols seem very well managed here. A big, fruity wine with lots of guts and flavor but surely not delicate.
June 3, 2010 - Spicy peppery cherry light raisen and green plum; tar at times; can feel the heat; luscious at times.
November 27, 2008 - Great expression of pinot noir. Went very well with Thanksgiving turkey, dressing and all the timmings. Nice body and fruit tastes of cherries and strawberries.
October 27, 2008 - Very rich nose of dark fruit, mocha, cola and baking spice. Adds a floral edge with time. Less ripe on the palate were there is a minty stemminess, red cherry and black raspberry fruit, and chocolate. Medium weight and a little flat. The finish is shows tar, some (slightly green) tannin, red fruit and a little heat. Another well made Sta. Rita Hills Pinot that is too large scale for my palate.
May 11, 2008 - Have a couple 2003s of this left so why not. On opening, has that lifted Melville signature bouquet. A day later, that signature is less apparent but the whole cluster piece now steps more forward, along with a stalk/peppery feel. Palate wise, like past Terraces, shows a piney feel, with kind of a heavy handed weight of dark plum and black rapsberry, surrounded by a dark brown spice feel. The flavors here overall are less bright and more dark, along with a finishing acidity. Kind of a wine that shows as parts, with a sweeter weight.
February 24, 2008 - Smooth and light with a distinctive taste of cherry. Went well with pork tenderloin.