Melville Winery Small Lot Collection Pinot Noir Block M Estate Sta. Rita Hills 2022

Fermented with lots of stems (80%) and raised all in neutral barrels, the 2022 Pinot Noir Block M is another more red-fruited effort that has savory strawberry and redcurrant-like aromatics as well as some leafy herbs, peppery stems, and chalky mineral-like aromas and flavors. It has riveting focus and purity, medium body, ripe yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. You could safely put this up with the top Pinot Noirs and red Burgundies out there.  Like it today, yet it should evolve for at least a decade.