Hot off the presses- 2010 Melville small-lot Pinot Noir

The Pinot Noir from Melville's Terraces and Carrie's blocks of their estate vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills are wines that I identified with from an early stage in my wine evolution.

The Terraces is a 4.9 acre block in the far west of the Melville vineyard. It's essentially west-facing terraces, exposed to the elements coming off the Pacific- wind pressure and several sun exposures with little morning sun. It is clay loam and calcareous shale soil planted to five clones- Swan, Mount Eden, 115, 667 and 777. The density and impact of the wine from Terraces along with the brooding earth qualities stood out to me when I was first exposed to these wines. 

The Carrie's block is also 4.9 acres. It sits on terraces above the Terraces block. It gets more overall sun and less wind pressure, and is planted on deeply rooted botella clay soil. The clones of the Carrie's block are 114 and 115. The resulting wines are full of brighter red fruit and more floral elegance when compared to The Terraces.

Winemaking on these wines includes whole-cluster fermentation (100% on Terraces and 60% on Carrie's) and sur lie aging in neutral French oak barrel. Winemaker Greg Brewer's wines are sometimes thought to be in the fuller/riper camp of Pinot Noir's from the area. However I've always found them to be more about impact than about being forward. The wines to me show balance, with the Carrie's being the more elegant of the two while The Terraces is more about impact and presence. 

With the release of the 2010's, I visited Melville for a sneak peak-

Melville 2010 Terraces Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills- Aromas of spice and cola, with rhubarb, plum, black cherry and licorice. Silky and voluptuous on the palate, highlighted by notes of pine needle and spice above notes of black cherry, raspberry and hints of earth. Firm and tight with finishing notes of Christmas spice, fruit and fully lingering cracked pepper. Needs time to meld. (rating- I like+!) $52

Melville 2010 Carrie's Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills- Bright aromas of orange zest, hints of cola, rhubarb and candied cherry. Bright floral fruit and spice on the palate with hints of dried herb. Silky and tight with fine tannins and flushed with full brushed herb and red fruit on the finish. A little more together at this young stage but still very tight and firm. (rating- I like+!) $52

Overall I got the qualities that I look for in these wines- impact, balance, complexity, lasting finishes and hints of elegance (especially on the Carrie's block). There's a cooling down and settling in to happen with these wines, but I look forward to seeing them come together. With time and tender loving care, I'm sure they could both end up ascending to attain the coveted "I love!" rating.