One of our favorite vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills is Melville.   The comfortable Mediterranean villa style tasting room offers some beautiful wines some at very affordable prices.  Last time we picked up a couple of bottles; one being the 2008 Pinot Noir from Verna’s Estate, a great value @ $24.  One word I would use to describe it would be elegant.  This would be a lovely addition to Thanksgiving dinner and you don’t have to tell your guests how much you paid, they’d never guess.

2008 Melville Pinot Noir Verna’s Estate

Over the last 5-6 years Melville has consistently been producing some of the best Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay the Central Coast has to offer. Better yet, the wines are completely affordable and generally ready to drink on release. The new Verna’s Estate Pinot Noir is a perfect example of the frugal drinkability Melville has to offer. From the get-go the nose tells you that you are going to be in for a wildly delicious ride. Strawberry, lavender, Rainier cherry are all presented on a crisp, vibrant frame. The lightweight nature here is nothing to fear, remember this is Pinot and Greg Brewer, more prominently know for his work with Brewer-Clifton and Diatom, makes some of the most feminine, and yet flavor-packed Pinots in California. Using 12% new French oak and 33% whole cluster fermentation, Greg keeps the raw materials in full view. The red fruited nature of this wine resonates throughout backed by echoing flavors of beef carpaccio, flowering thyme, spearmint and Asian plum. Is it too early to start thinking about turkey? (Bryan Brick, K&L) tasting notes courtesy of K & L Wines

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