Mono Head

9.0

The first serving of this wine I gave it an 8.5. It was after the second tasting that I gave it a 9. Full body fruit forward. Well balanced. Good but not great. $85 — 9 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.2

Great berry, bit if of raspberry. Nice balance. Alc is higher but it works really well — 10 years ago

Tuomas Vaittinen

9.1

Creamy while still well balanced. Not the type I usually look for but perfect with artichoke risotto — 10 years ago

César Pérez León

9.0

DO Montsant Zerran 2012
Ripe fruit, spices and earthy aromas. Well bodied, round tannins, fresh and well balanced. Excellent price-quality. — 11 years ago

Robert Morris

9.0

Good body, a bit spicy. Would pair well with salami & cheese. — 11 years ago

James Gutierrez

9.1

Not too much of a white drinker, but it's a simple everyday Chardonnay. Buttery pear aroma with a hint of Granny Smith. Smooth entry distinguishing the buttery taste. Well balanced — 12 years ago

MaryAnn DeSantis

9.8

Cherry flavors practically jumped out of glass. Although the color is light, the wine is delicious and flavors well balanced. — 12 years ago

Mark Helsom

9.2

Needs additional time however, loving the potential of this well made wine. — 10 years ago

Charine Tan

9.0

Backstory: Tasted this at the winery and loved it so much that we bought a bottle to take along with us to Mexico. Chad Melville is the owner and winemaker at Samsara. He's also the chief winegrower at Melville Winery.

Winemaking Process: Single vineyard wine with grapes harvested from the Cargasacchi vineyard, which is in the middle aka sweet spot of Santa Rital Hills. 75% whole cluster fermentation with native yeast. 50% in new French oak barrels for 22 months, followed by 12-month ageing in the bottle. Unfiltered.

Tasting Notes: Colour is ruby red with some clarity, no sediment. On the nose, it has blue fruit, cherry, cassis, cigar, asphalt, lambskin leather and pronounced earthy notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with full, mouth-filling texture. Red fruit notes appear first, and then the taste turns into an earthy, allspice notes, and finishes off with something so bright and refreshing that reminds us of orange peel. The tannins are soft. End palate is long, around 10 seconds, marked by minerality and cherry. I love this wine because unlike many Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara, it isn't over extracted and not too sweet (like fruit pastille). There's a fleeting burst of sweet red fruit flavour on the mid palate and the flavour quickly transits to earthy notes and tannins. It's a more earthy Pinot Noir but yet still elegant and ready to be consumed. At $55, I think it's well worth the price. — 10 years ago

Antonio Vasco

9.1

Frutos rojos, gran entrada, final redondo y ciruela. Para mí, muy muy rico — 11 years ago

Bertus van Zyl

Assistant Winemaker Regusci Winery

9.2

Extremely well balanced and fresh. Should age really well! — 11 years ago

Sean Hardiman

9.6

Amazing wine would not let it age past 2006 still maintains its body well but past 2006 I think would be too much age. — 11 years ago

Michael Retter

9.7

Great fruit. Soft tannins. Really well balanced. Great bottle of wine. — 12 years ago

Rochelle

9.4

I like this it has anise, white pepper and smoke on nose a tannic medium to full finish a well developed wine for price ! — 10 years ago

Alicia Cypress

9.3

This is so well rounded! Dried flowers on the nose, followed by a palate with cherry up front and black licorice (anise) that's been rolled around in the dirt and picked up some spice along the way on the finish. — 10 years ago

Carol Kellett

9.5

Beautiful flavors on the palate. So well balanced and delicious. — 11 years ago

Ben Hearns

8.9

great light red, well paired with sushi — 11 years ago

MV

9.2

Blackberry goodness. Enjoyed with some red sauce, broccolini, and garlic. Still young but stood up well. Dark and juicy. — 11 years ago

Heidi Beachner

9.4

Thick delicious apple! Best cold — 12 years ago

Pete Hegedus

8.9

Strawberry, raspberry, herbs, and a touch of spice. Nice acidity and well balanced. — 12 years ago