The 2007 Pinot Noir Carrie’s is the most Burgundian of this group. Complex notes of forest floor, fresh mushrooms, blueberries, black raspberries, and cherries along with an ethereal earthiness are reminiscent of what one finds in some of the great grand crus from Burgundy’s northern Cotes de Nuits. In the mouth, the wine is dense and rich with excellent balance despite its lofty alcohol content and heady overall size. This is a complex, evocative, gorgeous example of what amazing potential exists in the Santa Rita Hills for Pinot Noir.Melville’s six Pinot Noir cuvees are all noteworthy. With the exception of the Verna’s Vineyard wines, which come from Los Alamos, the other five are all made from different parcels of the same vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, with various density of plantings as well as clonal choices.Tel. (805) 235-7030

Combines a delicate, floral lightness with a potent intricacy to produce a wine of vast intellectual interest. Dry and somewhat tannic, and crisp in tangy acidity, this small-production Pinot features tiers of tart red cherries, rosehip tea, cola, mint, lavender, anise and pepper, edged with the honeyed sweetness of smoky, glazed oak. A tremendous achievement, and the wine of the vintage.——S.H.(11/1/2009)—— 97