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Melville Sta. Rita Hills Estate Estate Pinot Noir M Block 2023

$8499

This is Melville zooming in. Block M sits up above the Terraces on the top of the westside hill, directly in the path of the cold Pacific wind and intense sun, about as extreme a spot as the estate farms. That exposure makes for small berries and concentrated fruit, and the single-block Pinot Noir that results is more intense and structured than the regular Estate bottling. Expect darker fruit, more savory depth and a firmer frame, all built on the organic, cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills foundation Melville is known for. A serious single-vineyard Pinot for anyone who likes to taste a specific patch of dirt.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


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Antonio Galloni

95 points

"The 2023 Pinot Noir Estate Block M is wonderful, and also the most generous, accessible and complete of these small-lot bottlings today. Rounded and supple, it's soft-spoken but oozes with floral complexity. Blood orange, lavender, potpourri, incense and sandalwood aromas drip with finesse and elegance, enshrouding a long, layered finish. The 80% whole clusters are perfectly integrated. The 2023 rings out in harmony."

Robert Parker

96 points

"The most multifaceted and complete of the Melville Pinot Noirs is the 2023 Pinot Noir Block M, a selection of 114 and 115 clones situated above the blocks that supply the Terraces bottling, fermented with 80% whole clusters. It bounds from the glass with the most expressive aromatic profile of the range, seamlessly fusing mineral, saline, citrus and floral notes with a complex web that perfectly encapsulates the profile typical of the northern Sta. Rita Hills. The palate paints a similarly complex picture, combining density, elasticity and a distinct sense of buoyancy that carries through the concentrated, lively and multidimensional finish, only growing more complex and refined as it opens in the glass. Despite the youthfully taut nature of the Melville lineup, this wine is relatively expressive even at this young stage, although I would hold off on popping corks for at least another couple of years." —Matthew Luczy

Wine Spectator

95 points

"A distinctive red, with savory, rosemary, sanguine and rose hip threads that ripple through a core of gently mulled blood orange, bitter cherry and damson plum. Subtle echoes of mesquite and sous-bois linger on the finish."

Wine Enthusiast

95 points

"Vivid and exotic aromas of Suriname cherry, black tea, sumac and black peppercorn engage the nose on this block-designated bottling. The palate is energetic and brisk, pairing strawberry with elegant mac and star anise flavors."

More about Melville

After a long career growing some of the most sought-after fruit in Sonoma County’s Knights Valley, Ron Melville wanted to make California's best cold climate wines. This desire led him to the Santa Rita Hills in the windswept, foggy western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley where he founded Melville Estate Winery in 1996. Today, with the help of his son Ron, the estate is one of California's most highly regarded.

The best Pinots grown in California mostly seem to come from remote sites, and there aren't many sites more remote than the Santa Rita Hills. Even though it's home to one of Santa Barbara’s most important pioneering vineyards, Sanford and Benedict, it took over twenty years for the intrepid winemakers to realize its potential for crafting elegant and complex Pinot Noir.

That being said, for most of its history the Santa Rita Hills, along with the rest of Santa Barbara County has produced what one might say is the dominant style of California Pinot. Rich bold wines, with very smooth and silky textures and a sweetness of fruit that can sometimes make them difficult to pair with food. Ron Melville saw the potential to do something different with his cool, cool vineyards, and with the help of his family and the nonpareil winemaking talents of Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton, he decide to craft fresh, vivid and complex Pinots.

Believing that the best wines are made in the vineyard, Melville only produces wines from their meticulously farmed estate. Alongside the exceptional Pinots, Melville also produces Chardonnay and Syrah that are equally elegant.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Pinot Noir

  • Vintage

    2023

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Sustainable

  • Style

    Earthy , Minerally

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Medium Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Grilled lamb, duck breast, or roasted mushrooms and beef short rib.

Tasting Profile

Medium-to-full red, dry, with dark berries, savory spice, firm structure and fresh acidity.