Over the years, Melville wines have been a pillar of consistency. I’ve been tasting at Melville for more than a decade and it has grown to be one of my absolute favorite stops in Santa Barbara wine country. This outstanding property has had Chad Melville at its helm for several years after being under Greg Brewer’s guidance. Chad has been crafting some absolutely stunning wines and has created his unique winemaking style. I absolutely love the saline-driven terroir that he is able to mold into his wines. He not only makes the wines but also helps farm his 82 acre property at Melville.
Melville’s vineyards were first planted in 1996 by his father Ron Melville and his brothers which was quite unique at the time. The vineyard was planted to 14 different clones of Pinot Noir and 4 different clones of Chardonnay, as well as Syrah and Viognier. The new releases by Chad Melville were simply gorgeous across the board, none more so than the 2085 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which landed firmly on my Washington Wine Blog 2018 Top 100. This is an absolutely stunning new Chardonnay that is one to purchase by the case. I adored the new 2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is a killer value out of Santa Barbara County. This is a Pinot with great richness, poise and salinity. Learn more about this outstanding producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah at http://melvillewinery.com Here are the gorgeous new wines by Melville.
2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a glorious new release by the talented Chad Melville. Lemon infused Challah bead and Macadamia nut tones collide with damp earth and smoky undertones on this evocative bouquet. The palate is beautifully textured with wonderful finesse and a silky mouthfeel. The length here adds to the enjoyment as this outstanding Chardonnay will provide drinking enjoyment for at least another seven years. Drink 2021-2027- 93
2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is translucent in the glass, showing great aromatic range from salted red fruits to charcuterie and Umami tones that all impress. The palate is marvelously textured, with Bing cherry, guava and cran-pomegrante flavors alongside tilled salty soils. Beautifully textured, with a long finish, this outstanding new Pinot Noir will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2021-2029- 93
2018 Melville ‘Estate’ Syrah- Smoky, savory and downright delicious, the 2018 ‘Estate’ Syrah is a downright awesome new wine by Melville. Dried herbs with bacon fat and smoked brisket with wild blackberry jam aromatics all meld in the glass. The palate is nicely concentrated but also highly nuanced with the herbal tones mingling with salted wet rocks, red and dark fruits as well as cran-orange tones. This is just killer Syrah for the price. Drink 2021-2029- 94