Winemaker Notes
Melbury originates from a spectacular property on the slopes north of Lake Hennessey, in the hills east of Rutherford. The name Melbury is in homage to an historic area in London, where the estate owners reside much of the year. Since its debut with the 1999 vintage, the consistent hallmarks of Melbury have been plush red fruits (currants, bing cherries), redolent with spice and the scent of violets. Elegance and a supple texture define the structure of this wine. The particular exposition of this rocky 7-acre hillside vineyard is southerly overlooking Lake Hennessey, allowing the vines to capture the morning sun yet moderating afternoon temperatures.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is so aromatic and beautiful with a floral, dark-berry, blueberry and currant character. An underlying finesse and brightness. Very fine tannins. Long and intense finish. Savory.
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Vinous
The 2014 Melbury has aged exceptionally well. A vivid, highly expressive Cabernet, the 2014 is all class. Floral notes meld into a core of creamy, beautifully resonant dark red-toned fruit. Pliant, silky tannins wrap it all up in style. More than anything else, I admire the wine's exquisite balance. Melbury is never the showiest wine at BOND. It needs time to truly blossom. This is the best showing yet for the Melbury.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Melbury is profoundly scented of crushed plums, black cherries and cassis with hints of dark chocolate, black pepper, black soil and licorice plus a hint of iron ore. Full-bodied, rich and earthy in the mouth, it has a lovely fine-grained but firm backbone with plenty of freshness, finishing long and peppery.
Rating: 96+
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.