Melville, Terraces Estate Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2021

95 points Wine Enthusiast
"Dark, intense and juicy aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, violet and black pep- per fire up the amazing nose of this bottling. The palate is vibrant with acidity and layered in a fascinating texture, combining flavors of bay leaf with boysenberry in seamless ways."

94 points Wine Advocate
"Ripe red cherries, currants, smoked herbs, iron, rose petal, and hints of game all emerge from the 2021 Pinot Noir Terraces, a more medium to full-bodied effort from Melville that has a beautifully layered texture, building yet ripe tannins, and a great finish. Fermented with 60% whole clusters and aged in neutral oak, it’s going to evolve nicely for 10-15 years in cold cellars."

94 points James Suckling
"A very contrasty pinot with sliced orange, strawberry, white pepper, and other spices. It’s medium-bodied and manages to show ripe fruit in the center palate but turns energetic and racy at the end."

Jancis Robinson
"A little more than 65% whole-cluster fermentation. Ages for 14 months in neutral oak. 595 cases made.
Smells of wonderfully perfumed cherry and raspberry fruit. Highly floral raspberry and cherry fruit flavours mix with dried herbs and dried flowers in a swirling crystalline haze of brilliance. Athletic tannins. Fantastic acidity. Faint salinity. Stunning. 18.5/20 points. (AY)"

Vinous Reverie Notes
On the west side of Melville's property, the three undulating slopes of Terraces are planted on clay-rich loam and calcareous shale soils totaling 4.9 acres. The combined sections wrap 120 degrees around Block M on the mesa above and face west, lying completely exposed to the elements, enduring severe wind pressure, several different sun exposures and challenging drainage issues. Planted to five different clones of Pinot Noir: Swan, Mount Eden, 115, 667 and 777, resulting in a unique combination of older California field selections and newer Dijonnaise clonal material.