Melville - Pinot Noir Block M Santa Rita Hills 2021 (750ml)
Price: $75.00
| Producer | Melville |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Santa Rita Hills |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 6932 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Enthusiast: 96 Points
Dark cherry and juicy strawberry aromas fit well into the Melville lineup but this bottling is more brooding with dark bay leaf and peppercorn depth. Zippy in acidity the palate is loaded with patchouli and incense flavors that balance the strawberry fruit. Sappy tannins ensure a long life so drink the wine now through 2041. ? Matt Kettmann
Vinous: 95 Points
The 2021 Pinot Noir Block M is the most potent of the Melville Pinots. It emerges from a single block planted with 114 and 115 clone Pinot on clay. A dark somber wine the 2021 saturates the palate with dark fruit incense lavender rose petal menthol and licorice. The 80% stems are not at all evident. Give this powerhouse Pinot a few years to settle. - By Antonio Galloni on July 2023 Chad Melville turned out a gorgeous set of wines in 2021. The top bottlings in particular are deeply impressive. As always the house style in the reds is defined by a considerable amount of stems along with aging in neutral oak. It?s an interesting combination that works well here. Even with a high percentage of whole clusters the wines are remarkably expressive of their micro-sites. Melville recently acquired the Chapel vineyard which is the site that started Ron Melville?s obsession with the Sta. Rita Hills many years ago. It will be interesting to see what Melville does with this fruit. Personally I would like to see a single vineyard Chardonnay at the very least.
vWine Advocate: 94 Points
The 2021 Pinot Noir Block M is scented of raspberry and blackberry preserves blood orange aniseed tobacco and wildflowers with amaro-like undertones. The medium-bodied palate has a concentrated core of fragrant fruit framed by dusty tannins and vibrant acidity and it has a long spicy finish. 598 cases were made. Published: Jan 31 2024
