Melville Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Estate 2020

93 points Jeb Dunnuck: "A year-in, year-out no brainer for those who love impeccably made California Pinot Noir, the 2020 Pinot Noir Estate Sta. Rita Hills reveals a healthy, translucent ruby hue as well as textbook Sta. Rita Hills notes of mulberries, redcurrants, baking spices, dried flowers, and subtle hints of marine-like iodine and salinity. Beautiful on the palate as well, it's medium-bodied, has terrific balance, silky tannins, and a great finish. It's gorgeous today yet will keep for a decade in cold cellars. Drink 2022-2032 (May 2022)"

91 points Anthony Galloni (Vinous): "Melville’s 2020 Pinot Noir Estate is a very pretty, effusive wine. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, mint, spice and cedar are all very nicely lifted. This gracious, mid-weight Pinot bodes quite well for the rest of the range. Drink 2022-2030 (Oct 2021)"

91 points Patrick J. Comiskey (Wine & Spirits): "A young wine with youthful dark fruit and tension, and a strident expression of whole-cluster spice, this is exceedingly savory in its aromatics, with scents of olive and olive leaf, smoldering tobacco and gorse. Its fruit is flavorful and dark, and shows some intergration after three days open, but it needs age to merge with the savory elements. Cellar. (Spring 2022)"

Producer notes: "100% Melville estate fruit and a collection of 16 Pinot Noir clones. 40% whole clusters. Red rose petal in color, lively and vivid aromatics of raspberry, black cherry, fresh cranberry sauce, blood orange and nori waft from the glass. In the background, dried sage, basil powder and talc weave alongside a hint of cinnamon and orange rind. The mouthfeel is polished with soft, bright acidity and focused, silky, assertive tannins on the finish that add gorgeous earthy components and complexity."