It is comparable to the right bank of Bordeaux, such as Pomerol or Saint-Emilion. It has the opulence of Chateau Petrus and the softness of a blend of Merlot.
The wine's name is the name of a historic avenue in London, a nostalgic name where the owner of the vineyard lived for a long time. It is located in the hills east of Rutherford, north of Lake Hennessy, and the soil is composed of stony clay. The taste, which has been consistently characterized since the first vintage in 1999, is colored with the aroma of luxurious red fruits, spices and violets, and has an elegant and smooth texture as if it were blended with Merlot.
"Melbury"
The name Melbury is the name of a tree-lined avenue in a historic London landmark, and is a nostalgic name for the long-time residence of the field owners.
First vintage in 1999.
Of Bond's five vineyards, Pluribus is the smallest, too. On its south side lies Lake Hennessy, a cool lake that beautifully reflects the morning sun, helping to keep the afternoon temperature down.
Ten harvesting paths are created and careful selection is carried out in the fields, resulting in very low yields (1.7 tons/acre (approximately 27 hectoliters/hectare) and strict selection of cuvées when blending.
Vintage Information
In 2018, buds began to sprout in the last week of April, much later than other vineyards. The topsoil of this sloping vineyard is clayey, which allowed it to retain the late spring rains for a long time, helping the summer growing season. As usual, the grapes were small and compact, and the harvest was delayed until mid-October and completed in a week.
Tasting Comments
Melbury's characteristic velvety, supple mouthfeel and layered complex elements are prominent, the taste is spherical and rounded, containing energy, and the powerful and voluminous tannins are reminiscent of the clay soil. The long finish is grand and gradually overflows with joyful emotions. In comparison to Bordeaux, it is the right bank, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.
It has the opulence of Chateau Petrus and a softness that makes it seem as if it also contains Merlot.
96P Wine Advocate dated April 2023 by Joe Czerwinski
Field Information
The Melbury vineyard is 2.8ha in size, 106-159m above sea level, and faces east and southeast. The soil is made up of old sedimentary soils mixed with gravel on top of hard clay bedrock. It is located on the hills east of Rutherford and north of Lake Hennessy.
Vintage: 2018
Capacity: 750ml
Type: Red wine
Taste: Full-bodied
Main variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country of Origin: America
Region Name: California
AVA: Napa Valley
Notes: 96P Wine Advocate dated April 2023 by Joe Czerwinski
Winemaker: Cory Empting
Rating: 90P or above
Cap: Cork
Alcohol content: 14.5%
JAN: None