2013, 2014, 2015 California Pinot Noir Tasting Lot — Melville "Block M" Sta. Rita Hills, Albatross Ridge "Cuvée Vivienne" Monterey, Wrath 115/667 & Wrath Pommard 4/777 Monterey County

“A very complete, balanced red, the 2013 Pinot Noir Block M was just partially destemmed (20%) and aged 14 months in neutral oak. It has a darker slant to its fruit with lots of black cherry, licorice, pepper/stem and forest floor emerging from the glass. These flow to a rich, masculine Pinot that has brilliant mid-palate depth, a seamless texture and building tannin that emerges on the finish. Give it a year or two and enjoy bottles through 2025. (JD)” (08/2015)

“Plump dark raspberries and ripe cherries combine with herbes de provence, slight lavender and a slightly gamy quality on this wine's elegant nose. Floral-driven flavors of hibiscus, rose hips and elderflower spice up the woody elderberry fruit, settling into Mediterranean herbs and a soft zing that goes deep into the finish. (MK)” (12/2015)

“Black cherries, plums, cloves, new leather and menthol are some of the many notes that take shape in Melville's Pinot Noir Block M. Dark, pliant and highly expressive, the 2013 shows the more virile side of Pinot, with notable breadth and amplitude. This parcel tends to produce small clusters, hence the wine's considerable richness. Winemaker Greg Brewer turned out a gorgeous set of 2013 Pinots at Melville. The wines are consistently of very high quality, something that was not easy to achieve in a year with huge yields. As always, Brewer works with small-lot fermentations, a healthy amount of whole clusters for the Pinots (less for the Syrahs), low levels of new oak and minimal racking, which allows for the personality of each site to come through. (AG)” (06/2015)

“Lots of herbs, dried red currants and cranberry compote aromas show on the nose of this bottling, which has an earthy, gamy undercurrent. The palate tastes like it has more age on it, which is a good thing for now, with flavors of charred wood, damp forest floor, dried fruit and allspice, all riding a squeaky texture. (MK)” (04/2018)

“The 2015 Pinot Noir Pommard 4/777 is another lightly colored effort and it saw one of the higher percentages of whole clusters, fermented with 35% stems and then aged in just under 50% new oak. It offers more old-world charm than most in the lineup and gives up lots of forest floor and underbrush nuances as well as ripe cherry and strawberry fruit, medium-bodied richness, light tannin and a supple, soft texture. Already approachable, it nevertheless has the balance to evolve gracefully for 7-8 years. This is undeniably the Burgundy lovers Pinot Noir in the lineup.” (10/2017)

“Deep red cherry, sharp cinnamon spice, crushed gravel and wet cement show on the nose of this clonal selection. The palate shows red plums and star anise, proving tangy and tart. (MK)” (05/2018)