The 2007 Pinot Noir High Density has more blueberry, black raspberry, licorice, pomegranate, and underbrush notes. This is a full-throttle, beautifully textured, fruity wine. With plenty of character, personality, structure, acidity, and purity, it should drink well for a decade. 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

A sensational Pinot Noir, and a very seductive one at that, is the 2006 Pinot Noir High Density. Black raspberry, truffle, and sweet earthy notes jump from the glass of this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine. Broad, savory, and full-bodied, this is a gorgeous Pinot Noir to drink over the next 5-6 years. The Melville family has one of the top vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, and the wines are made under the supervision of Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton. It is interesting that I found the Melville Pinot Noirs far less spice-dominated, with more blue and black fruits, than those of Brewer-Clifton. That struck me as unusual because the vineyards are often close to each other geographically, and of course, the winemaking philosophy is generally the same.Tel. (805) 235-7030; Fax (805) 235-5310

The deep ruby-hued, medium-bodied, beautifully pure, long, heady 2005 Pinot Noir High Density offers aromas of sweet raspberries, forest floor, flowers, underbrush, and spice. It’s interesting that the Melville Pinot Noirs are not nearly as complex as the Brewer-Clifton offerings, even though they have the same winemaking team. Tel. (805) 235-7030

Fashioned from a tightly spaced parcel, the deep ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Pinot Noir High Density boasts a beautiful sweet nose of blue and black fruits as well as an opulent, voluptuous texture, medium to full body, and loads of flowers, fruit, and a hint of forest floor. Made from 100% destemmed fruit, it is a fleshy, rich Pinot to consume over the next 5-7 years. Tel. (805) 735-7030