In 1996, founder Ron Melville's desire to grow cold-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah brought him to the Sta. Rita Hills where he established his winery, situated amongst the beautiful rolling hills where the grapes are grown exclusively in their three estate vineyards.

Melville currently has 120 acres under vine. The soil is mostly Lompoc dune sand, interspersed with clay loam and shallow hard pans of Monterey shale. The estate currently has 16 clones of Pinot Noir, 9 clones of Syrah, and 6 clones of Chardonnay - all on a variety of low-vigor rootstocks. All blocks are fermented in small lots and isolated through their entire period of elevage, which provides Melville’s team with an ongoing exhibition of how they can fine tune vineyard practices in order to achieve the most unmanipulated and site-specific wines possible.

Melville “grows their flavors,” using no new oak and adding only yeast.

The Sandy’s block is named in honor of Ron Melville’s sister and was deliberately planted on the extremely sandy northwest section of the estate’s east vineyard. Sandy’s has performed heroically over the years particularly when considering its extreme location combined with the poor, well-drained soils of this section. The block also contains clonal material representative of the estate’s new era of plantings, including selections from Merry Edwards, Calera (Clone 90), and clones 459 and 114. These four selections, when planted on sand, produce wildly intense and pretty aromatics with a very ethereal and harmonic palate impression.

The fruit is fermented in small (1.5 ton) open-top fermenters. Total skin and stem contact average 30 days (7 day cold soak, 2 + weeks of fermentation and 1 + week extended maceration). From the press, the wine is transferred directly into neutral French oak barrels (10-20 years old) where it remains sur lie with no sulfur until it is gently racked for the first time and prepared for bottling. 30% stem inclusion.

The 2020 Melville Pinot Noir Sandy's is a captivating red wine that showcases the elegance and complexity of Santa Barbara's Santa Rita Hills appellation. With a deep ruby color that glimmers in the glass, this Pinot Noir is visually enticing and invites you to explore its enticing aromas and flavors.

On the nose, the 2020 Sandy's Pinot Noir reveals a bouquet of black raspberry, mulberry, and black cherry, creating a harmonious blend of sweet and savory notes. These fruit aromas are complemented by subtle hints of mocha, cloves, and dried herbs, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to the wine.

The palate of this wine is where it truly shines, displaying a medium-bodied style with a tight and focused character. The sandy soils from which it hails bring forth a distinct texture and contribute to its fine yet present tannins. With 50% whole clusters used during fermentation, this Pinot Noir offers a pleasing structure and a burst of mouthwatering acidity that highlights bitters and earth accents on the long, detailed finish.

Critics have praised the 2020 Sandy's Pinot Noir, with Jeb Dunnuck awarding it an impressive score of 94+ points. He notes that this wine will benefit from some bottle age and predicts it will continue to evolve and develop over the next decade. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also commends this wine, awarding it a score of 95 and highlighting its notable detail and purity.

With only 720 cases produced, the 2020 Melville Pinot Noir Sandy's is a limited and highly sought-after wine that showcases the best of the Santa Rita Hills appellation. Whether enjoyed now or cellared for future enjoyment, this Pinot Noir is sure to impress with its depth, complexity, and outstanding length.