2012 Melville Pinot Noir Estate Sandy's

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 91 points

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  3/31/2023 - VinoRuth wrote:

  Started out a bit cooked rhubarb and astringent. Opened up to fresh strawberry rhubarb with a forest floor mossy classic Pinot. Not going to get better but tasting just fine right now and several years still in the tank

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  9/23/2021 - forceberry wrote: 88 Points

  Made with Pinot Noir Dijon clones 90, 114, 459 and clonal material from Merry Edwards. Made with partially destemmed (60%) fruit, first cold-soaked for a week, then fermented in small open-top fermentors for approximately two weeks, followed by another week of post-fermentation maceration, totaling to a month of skin maceration. Aged in old (10-20 yo) French oak barrels. 15% alcohol. Total production 384 cases.
  
  Slightly evolved and somewhat translucent raspberry red color. Fragrant and quite sweet-toned nose with aromas of wild strawberries and cranberry sauce, some wizened cherry tones, light floral notes of violets, a little bit of tomato stalk, a savory hint of woody spice and a darker-toned touch of toasty oak spice. The wine feels ripe, savory and juicy on the palate with a moderately full body and somewhat brooding, dark-toned flavors of sweet black raspberries, some meaty umami tones, a little bit of marmaladey red fruit, light floral notes of violets, a hint of strawberry jam and a touch of savory wood spice. The overall feel is silky in texture, but perhaps a bit soft in structure, thanks to the medium-to-moderately high acidity - although the medium tannins bring some welcome firmness to the mouthfeel. The alcohol lends a little bit of heat to the palate. The finish is savory, gently grippy and subtly warm with long flavors of meaty umami, some savory woody tones, a little bit of meaty umami, light strawberry and black raspberry nuances, a sweet hint of cherry marmalade and a touch of toasty oak spice.
  
  A rich, fruity and noticeably ripe Pinot Noir that has a good deal of fruit and depth of flavor, but is perhaps a bit too big and ripe for my preference. The wine is far from being overripe, but this kind of rather big, quite sweet-toned and high-alcohol Pinot Noir isn't really my cup of tea - it lacks the freshness and finesse I look for in Pinot Noir, coming across as more like a Grenache in character. Perhaps some further aging might help in getting the wine more into balance, as the 2005 Melville Carrie's Pinot Noir that was tasted alongside was even higher in alcohol and felt more or less similar in ripeness, yet it came across as much more harmonious and enjoyable when tasting the wine comparatively one after another. This wine was good, but ultimately nothing that would blow my socks off. Feels way too pricey for the quality at 52,50€.

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  12/17/2016 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Nice structure with appropriate acidity. Love the way Melville's pinots bring just enough fruit.

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  11/9/2016 - Wine_in_HD wrote: 92 Points

  Focused with noticeable purity of fruit. I think it has potential to be even better over the next couple of years.

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  4/29/2016 - Savannahman wrote: 92 Points

  fresh ripe dark fruit, clean smooth mouth feel. Very enjoyable wine. This is why I like Pinot Noir.

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