2004 Melville Pinot Noir High Density

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 92.8 points

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  5/6/2016 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Medium ruby red in color with slight clearing at the edges. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of complex, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & figs with overtones of spice notes of allspice, cloves & cinnamon & floral notes, hints of sous-bois, earthy, mint, minerals, earthy, dried herbs & a slight hint of vanilla. Medium bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of sweet red cherries, strawberries & cranberries with spices of cloves & cinnamon, minerals, herbs & a hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present but is close to or at its peak of development although it will hold for several more years.

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  3/9/2012 - *Vine* wrote:

  Popped and poured. Medium-plus maroon ruby, hazy with a touch of bricking. Intense aromas initially showing more on the tertiary side, with complex notes of decomposing foliage, cigar box, orange zest, crushed cloves, five-spice powder, and notes of clay. 90 minutes later, the fruit peeks through and the nose evolves to show spicy raspberry/kirsch, subtle cherry, sandalwood, and a persistent, herbaceous green streak. Medium-plus body with moderate to moderate-plus acidity. Expansive flavors on the palate aren't lacking in subtlety, and the fruit profile shows as somewhat paradoxically both green and ripe...think crushed raspberries, blood orange, and dried strawberry notes paired with fresh, "sweet" green beans and tomato stems. Interesting for a Pinot in that notes of tobacco are, similar to the nose, again apparent on the palate along with a veritable cacophony of spices and a faint impression of minerals. The tannins are still somewhat astringent and chunky on the soaring, seemingly endless close, one which is accentuated by both a touch of heat and notes of fruit throughout.
  There is nothing easy about this wine. And for that very reason it is eminently compelling, even when forced to question the inherent contradictions it presents...perhaps this is wine as if made in a metaphorically "modern primitive" style?

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  6/19/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:

  Kind of an odd melange of flavors. Cherry tomatoe, plum, spice and a bit rough with some finishing acidity on the finiish.

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  6/18/2010 - WetRock wrote:

  Pre Poker Night Appetizers (Main Street Wine Cellar, Seal Beach, CA): Ripe baked fruits on the nose showing notes of tomato, spice and grape/apple skins. Bit simple and lean feeling with some grip still. Not too big but uneven.

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  10/4/2009 - JOJ wrote: 94 Points

  Fantastic. As noted by Hoya Vinophile, silky smooth, with luscious red fruit and a pleasing spice profile. Could drink this every day of the week.

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View all 9 Community Tasting Notes

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