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Melville 2011 Syrah, Verna's, Santa Barbara
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Item Number: 6580

UPC: 0705105170275

Country: USA
Region: California Sub Region: Santa Barbara
Appellation/AVA: Santa Barbara County
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vineyard Designation: Verna's Vineyard
Vintage: 2011
Grape(s): Syrah
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750ml Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 14
Case Production: 2,922


This is 100% Melville estate fruit from our ranch in Los Alamos and is named in honor of Ron Melville’s mother. Verna’s vineyard is composed of seven different clones: (Estrella, Shiraz 1, Tablas 99, 174, 383, 470 and 877). 40% of the grapes were fermented as whole-cluster and 60% destemmed in small 1.5 ton in small open-top fermenters. Total skin and stem contact averaged 30 days (a 7 day cold soak, 2+ weeks fermentation and 1+ week extended maceration.) From the press, the wine was transferred directly into neutral barrels (10 year old French oak) where it remained sur lie without sulfur until May, when it was racked for the first time and prepared for bottling in August. Yields were 3.1 lbs/vine (2.7 tons/acre).

Tasting Notes: Immediately noticeable are warm components of roasted marshmallows, molasses, pipe tobacco and dark chocolate while aromas of magnolia, anise, white pepper and chicory float in the background. Deeper impressions of sweet bbq, saddle leather, beef carpaccio, balsamic and iodine also come forward. Texturally, the wine is velvety and streamlined, finishing with intense precision.

Reviews
Melville 2011 Syrah, Verna's, Santa Barbara
Rating: 91

Inky ruby. Potent dark berry, Indian spices, minerals and black olive on the nose. Fat, juicy, gently sweet blackberry and cassis flavors are underscored by peppery spice and candied licorice qualities that gain energy with air. The smoke and dark fruit elements repeat on the youthfully tannic, spice-tinged finish: sweet, focused and long.

- International Wine Cellar (12/1/2013)

Melville 2011 Syrah, Verna's, Santa Barbara
Rating: 92

Looking at the Syrah, the 2011 Syrah Verna’s is a supple, sexy effort that’s loaded with black cherry liqueur, blackberry, pepper, stem, bacon fat and assorted meatiness on the nose. Filling in beautifully on the palate, with a medium-bodied profile, this knockout, voluptuously textured effort has no hard edges, serious purity of fruit and ripe tannin that emerges through the finish. Taking the better part of a day to shine, this beauty should be given another 2-3 years of bottle age and consumed over the following 7-8 years. Drink 2015-2022.

- The Wine Advocate (8/29/2013)