TN REQ- Melville 2000 Syrah

Jazin-Not a typically smooth Central Coast Syrah. Midway between a Syrah & Petit Sirah. Tasted twice. First one was smoother. 91 points. 2nd was more Petit Sirah-like. 90 points. Drink 2003-2007.

Parker-89

ronmc, what's your QPR rating? You don't seem overly joyed with it..

Seems like there are a lot of Shiraz offerings in the under $16 range that are as good from what you say about the Melville.

I had this one a few months ago, I thought it was more Rhone-ish than most American syrah, but I enjoyed it. I thought it was fairly priced at $24 from the winery, you might be able to find it for less than that if you shop around.

I bought 6 from the winery and have had 3 to date. Agree with 3red, very northern Rhoneish and quite enjoyable. I would give it a 90.

Ciao

I like Melville pinots a lot. That said, I frankly don't agree with any of the above posts. I do not find this the least bit similar to a Northern Rhone and instead find it to be the result of a pinot noir house making syrah. It is very highly perfumed, with Coca Cola smells predominating, and a slight element of VA. It has intense upfront fruit, atypically zingy black cherry and not particularly syrah-like in the flavor department, and predominant highly charred oak. It's intensity is followed unexpectedly by a very flabby structure with little mid-palate or finish. I would describe it as intensely elegant, like a well made pinot, but made with syrah instead. Keeping it open and drinking most of it on Day 2 is recommended because somehow it gains some structure after 24 hours of air (just cork it with no vacuming or gas). I don't think it's a bad wine, but a bit clumsy and like I say, a pinot-styled Syrah. It's similar to, but distinct from a typical Dehlinger, if that helps.

You should do a search on this wine before you write it off based on these comments. It was discussed quite a bit a couple months back, and a lot of people (including me) really liked it. That's not to discount what folks are saying in this thread, but I just wanted you to get a more balanced picture.

F. Sonic Smith -- You're not THE Fred Sonic Smith are you? I thought he was dead.

Top Ten, assuming your response is to the original thread, I agree that for ~$28, Jazin should try it for himself. It isn't going to be a complete waste of money, because it is good wine, just a bit atypical of what most people would expect of a Lampoc area syrah. Beckmen, for example, is relatively close by and their syrahs could not be more different. I do continue to strongly feel that comparisons to "Cote Rotie" are way off the mark. Cote Roties do tend to be more elegant and intensely focused in comparison to the Southern Rhones and Cornas, but they don't tend to be relatively unstructured. Again, I'm a big fan of Melville and have previously recommended the '00 Estate Pinot. I suspect future Melville Syrahs will be a bit better and also think this release will reward a little time in bottle.
As for your last question, "Kick out the Jams!", and say hello to Iggy for me.

Yeah, I was referring to the syrah -- "elegant" I would agree with, "unstructured" I would disagree with. In any event, I will, as you suggest, KICK OUT THE JAMS, MUTHA*****!!! (BTW, if you have an extra copy of the City Slang single by the Sonics Rendevous Band, I'd be happy to take it off your hands.)