Samsara Wine Co.
Melville Vineyard Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills, Central Coast, California, USA
Very tasty, fruit a little simple but the whole cluster flavors keep it all flowing.
Very tasty, fruit a little simple but the whole cluster flavors keep it all flowing.
Jan 2nd, 2022This bottle was a little thinner and more bitter than expected. Ok but not my favorite of this wine.
This bottle was a little thinner and more bitter than expected. Ok but not my favorite of this wine.
Dec 22nd, 2020
A friend said a must try! Normally a Loyal Melville Winery fan, this SamSara 2012 from Melville Vyd made by Chad, well Awesome juice. Distinctive cranberry and raspberry flavors on first sip. Also really fruit expressive from get go. This is Great BUT only had 2 now 1 bottle! I give this Pinot Noir a Big 95+ Rating and a much search for! #searchnow my compliments to #teamsamsara , keep doing this !!! 2012 at its Best! CB 95+
A friend said a must try! Normally a Loyal Melville Winery fan, this SamSara 2012 from Melville Vyd made by Chad, well Awesome juice. Distinctive cranberry and raspberry flavors on first sip. Also really fruit expressive from get go. This is Great BUT only had 2 now 1 bottle! I give this Pinot Noir a Big 95+ Rating and a much search for! #searchnow my compliments to #teamsamsara , keep doing this !!! 2012 at its Best! CB 95+
1 person found it helpfulJan 22nd, 20172008-- pretty rich but lovely flavors. Not as well defined as it could be but very tasty.
2008-- pretty rich but lovely flavors. Not as well defined as it could be but very tasty.
Nov 12th, 2015
This is their most well know vineyard and it shows. Perfect sta Rita fruit.
This is their most well know vineyard and it shows. Perfect sta Rita fruit.
Sep 19th, 2014
This wine just gets more beautiful every time I drink it.
This wine just gets more beautiful every time I drink it.
Apr 10th, 2014
The Santa Rita hills coddle this wine and I ain’t mad. Full, rich, aggressive yet smooth, this wine hits high and descends like a firework with leather and ash. The Pinot Noir is also a must-have.
The Santa Rita hills coddle this wine and I ain’t mad. Full, rich, aggressive yet smooth, this wine hits high and descends like a firework with leather and ash. The Pinot Noir is also a must-have.
Jul 4th, 2018Backstory: Tasted this at the winery and loved it so much that we bought a bottle to take along with us to Mexico. Chad Melville is the owner and winemaker at Samsara. He's also the chief winegrower at Melville Winery.
Winemaking Process: Single vineyard wine with grapes harvested from the Cargasacchi vineyard, which is in the middle aka sweet spot of Santa Rital Hills. 75% whole cluster fermentation with native yeast. 50% in new French oak barrels for 22 months, followed by 12-month ageing in the bottle. Unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Colour is ruby red with some clarity, no sediment. On the nose, it has blue fruit, cherry, cassis, cigar, asphalt, lambskin leather and pronounced earthy notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with full, mouth-filling texture. Red fruit notes appear first, and then the taste turns into an earthy, allspice notes, and finishes off with something so bright and refreshing that reminds us of orange peel. The tannins are soft. End palate is long, around 10 seconds, marked by minerality and cherry. I love this wine because unlike many Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, it isn't over extracted and not too sweet (like fruit pastille). There's a fleeting burst of sweet red fruit flavour on the mid palate and the flavour quickly transits to earthy notes and tannins. It's a more earthy Pinot Noir but yet still elegant and ready to be consumed. At $55, I think it's well worth the price.
Backstory: Tasted this at the winery and loved it so much that we bought a bottle to take along with us to Mexico. Chad Melville is the owner and winemaker at Samsara. He's also the chief winegrower at Melville Winery.
Winemaking Process: Single vineyard wine with grapes harvested from the Cargasacchi vineyard, which is in the middle aka sweet spot of Santa Rital Hills. 75% whole cluster fermentation with native yeast. 50% in new French oak barrels for 22 months, followed by 12-month ageing in the bottle. Unfiltered.
Tasting Notes: Colour is ruby red with some clarity, no sediment. On the nose, it has blue fruit, cherry, cassis, cigar, asphalt, lambskin leather and pronounced earthy notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with full, mouth-filling texture. Red fruit notes appear first, and then the taste turns into an earthy, allspice notes, and finishes off with something so bright and refreshing that reminds us of orange peel. The tannins are soft. End palate is long, around 10 seconds, marked by minerality and cherry. I love this wine because unlike many Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, it isn't over extracted and not too sweet (like fruit pastille). There's a fleeting burst of sweet red fruit flavour on the mid palate and the flavour quickly transits to earthy notes and tannins. It's a more earthy Pinot Noir but yet still elegant and ready to be consumed. At $55, I think it's well worth the price.