Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Deliciously complex, rich and polished, with layers of mocha-scented oak, ripe black cherry, blackberry and spice, offering nuances of cedar, chocolate and vanilla. Finishes with ripe, integrated tannins.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2000 Melbury displays tremendously fragrant aromas of black cherries, currants, licorice, and toasty oak, medium to full body, luscious fruit on the attack, and a slight narrowing in the finish.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.