2015 Melville Syrah Donna’s Sta. Rita Hills

2015 Melville Syrah Donna’s Sta. Rita Hills

2015 Melville Syrah Donna’s Sta. Rita Hills This 2015 wine shines, boasting a dark ruby hue intoxicating and savory aromatics of beef broth teriyaki fresh tobacco and stewed black cherries emerge initially. With time lifted spice impressions of pink peppercorns fennel and rosemary sprig also become apparent. On the palate tightly wound and energetic tannins coat the mouth and transition seamlessly into a pure and focused finish possessing tremendous depth and concentration.

Melville

Situated amongst the beautiful rolling hills of Western Santa Ynez Valley, Melville is dedicated to producing exceptional cold-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah grown exclusively in their estate vineyards throughout the Sta. Rita Hills appellation.

Founded in 1989, Melville is a family-owned and operated estate winery with its roots in Sonoma County’s Knights Valley, where Ron Melville once farmed high-quality and greatly sought-after grapes. In 1996, Ron’s desire to grow cold-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah brought Melville Vineyards to the Sta. Rita Hills, located in the Western Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County. When Ron Melville and his sons decided to develop the estate vineyards and winery in Lompoc, they recognized the importance of distinguishing this unique area within the valley. As such, the Melville family was heavily involved in the creation of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, which was granted in 2001. Today, Ron and his son, Chad Melville, uphold Melville’s tradition as one of the most highly-regarded estates in Sta. Rita Hills and California as a whole.

The estate’s climate is significantly impacted by its proximity to the ocean (10 miles), consistent morning/evening fog, and steady afternoon winds. These cooling trends are not only perfectly suited to growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah, but also serve to prolong the growing season, allowing for heightened varietal flavor intensity. Additionally, the region’s cool climate and calcareous rock and sand help produce grapes with natural acidity and flavor balance.