Melville Clone 76 Inox Chardonnay 2018
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Robert
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Enthusiast
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Vibrant green-gold in color, vivid and pure aromatics of lemon verbena, ripe plantain and golden pineapple spring from the glass. On the palate, white floral notes of honeysuckle, freesia and citrus blossom linger alongside weightier impressions of fresh mint, rock salt, macadamia nut oil and stone fruits. The mouthfeel is clean and focused, with a lively streak of acidity that anchors the wine’s generous and vivacious finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 100% stainless steel-fermented 2018 Chardonnay Estate Inox has a fresh nose with aromas of Bosc pear, Golden Delicious apple, quince, white peach and a touch of baker's yeast plus notes of kiwi and white blossom—oodles of pure, fresh fruit. The palate is light to medium-bodied and fruity, anchored by a streak of minerality and tangy acidity and finishing fresh. 464 cases produced.
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Wine Enthusiast
Nearly effervescent in the glass, this superfresh bottling sizzles on the nose with lime-pith, lemongrass, apple-blossom and pear-flesh flavors. The palate is reminiscent of a sparkling wine without the bubbles, showing limerind and chalk flavors as well as a grippy texture.
Other Vintages
2022-
Robert
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Wine &
Spirits -
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck
Melville is a family-owned, 100% estate, organic vineyard and winery in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County.
They produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and a small amount of Grenache. All their wines, from the flagship Estate
Pinot Noir to the Small Lot Collection Donna's Block Syrah, are hand-grown and hand-made 100 cases at a time.
Their founder Ron Melville carefully selected the location of the estate for its proximity to the Pacific Ocean as well as
the soil composition - predominantly sandy loam and diatomaceous earth with sections of clay. You can be too close
to the ocean and struggle with getting fruit ripe, and you can also be further away and struggle with temperatures that
are too hot...Melville is in the sweet spot.
The Melville's have been practicing responsible farming for over three decades, and since 1997 in the Sta. Rita Hills
when brothers Chad and Brent Melville planted the estate vineyards (before the AVA was formally established). They
take great pride in their commitment to "winegrowing"…working in harmony with Mother Nature to nurture their land
through organic and sustainable farming practices to ensure that all of the most crucial work is done in the vineyard.
The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is incredibly unique for a few reasons:
• It lies within a transverse mountain range, meaning that the mountains on either side of the valley are running
east-to-west from the ocean rather than north-to south. This is the only transverse mountain range in North
America.
• It has the longest growing season in North America. The growing season starts early (bud bread in late
February) and ends relatively late (Melville is often harvesting into late November) because they have a mild winter
and a cold, sunny summer. This environment of consistent "cold sunshine" allows for a long, slow ripening
and wines that showcase high acidity with ripe aromas/flavors.
Stylistically, They choose to only use neutral wood. With the vines being 25+ years old, they have reached a maturity
that Melville is proud of. The vines are creating the best fruit ever and they want their customers taste the flavors of Sta.
Rita Hills and Mother Nature in their purest form.
Stem inclusion during fermentation has been a key to Melville wines. They create aromatic lift, add tannins, and can
bring another dimension of flavor to the palate, including savoriness and spiciness. When using stems, it is important
to ensure they are fully ripe to avoid green, unpleasant, vegetal flavors. Fortunately, the Sta. Rita Hills' long growing
season allows for fully ripened stems.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A superior source of California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills is the coolest, westernmost sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley appellation within Santa Barbara County. This relatively new AVA is unquestionably one to keep an eye on.
The climate of Sta. Rita Hills is a natural match for Chardonnay and Pinot noir, thanks to the crisp ocean breezes and well-drained, limestone-rich calcareous soil. Here, grapes ripen just enough, while retaining brisk acidity and harmonious balance.