TN: 2005 Melville Pinot Noir Estate

WINE TALK
1
  • 2005 Melville Pinot Noir Estate - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (12/17/2010)
    Delicate notes of strawberry puree, rhubarb, heather, raspberries, pomegranates, and sous bois. Initially very tart on the palate, in addition to having a very high acidity, but after 3 hours of being open the wine became much more interesting and integrated. (87 pts.)
2

I don’t imagine the Melvilles are made to age all that much - do you feel this held up well enough?

3

I remember that at the Melville dinner we did a couple of years back that many of the older vintages were just excellent. Too bad that thread is lot to history on eBob. Paul, you were there that night, do you agree???

4

Todd, I think you are correct. This bottling is not meant to age; the acid additions (no doubt) work better with a younger fruit profile. That said, the wine has been pretty consistent with previous tastes and held up rather well.

5

I would think the Melville’s would age very well… With the relatively high acidity that their Pinot’s have, and the whole cluster fermentation… I’ve had several of their small lot Pinot’s, and they are seriously structured and balanced wines… It’s been a while since I’ve had the estate Pinot, but remember it being along the same lines as the small lots.

6

Ironically, we just opened the 2004 Melville Estate PN, with very similar tasting notes: framboise, raspberry, little depth or complexity. A nice enough wine, but the higher level bottlings likely provide more interest. I have admittedly little experience with this winery, however.