Winemaker Notes
One of the darker, more sultry pinots from our small-lot collection, Block M is an intriguing wine with a slightly “unfriendly” attitude (think dark red fruits, dark soil aromas, nori and soy). Once you get to know it, however, the experience becomes highly rewarding. The magic is found in the density of fruit concentration…Block M’s tiny berries have thicker skins with more grip, tannins, and phenolics than any other pinot in our repertoire. This wine is best paired with a grilled prime rib eye, freshly-cracked white pepper, a drizzle of the best extra virgin olive oil, and some fleur de sel finishing salt
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very firm, exceptional wine made from vines growing at the highest part of Chad Melville's estate vineyard. Dark cherries, dried cranberries, star anise and plums are wrapped in taut tannins on a medium body. Made from 80% whole clusters that were tiny and concentrated in flavor.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Fermented with 80% whole clusters, the 2022 Pinot Noir Block M was a moving target in the glass and will take time to come into itself, but it is nevertheless a highlight in the Melville lineup. A reticent, introverted nose hints at the coiled, buttoned-up power throughout the wine. On the palate, it is similarly tense and wound-up, displaying an evident intensity and saline structure that frames its dark-fruited, savory core. It concludes with a slow-moving finish. Rating: 93+
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.