2012 BOND Melbury

UNITED STATES / CALIFORNIA / NAPA
  • 95 WA
  • 92 WS
  • 95 IWC
  • 100 JS
  • Variety
    Proprietary Blend
See all wines from BOND
See other vintages 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
In stock|Sold out

Out of stock

learn more about producers & collectors

SKU: 73531-2012

This item is available by the case only

Total:
$1.00

This is a final sale item

Not eligible for cancellations or refunds

Back

  • James Suckling | Rating: 100

    Aromas of terracotta, clay and plum. Kiln too. Full-bodied with super freshness and balance that then shows an incredible finish with an electrical aftertaste. Vibrant. Tingling. Better in 2018 but so wonderful to taste now. Wow. Makes you want to drink it! This is from a very clay-soiled hillside vineyard. March 2016 release. Barrel sample.
    Author: James Suckling
    Issue: 20 Apr, 2015

  • International Wine Cellar | Rating: 95

    Deep ruby. Sexy nose combines black raspberry and truffle, plus a hint of minerals. At once plush and precise in the way of the best 2012s, with lively acidity giving shape and lift to the very intense flavors of dark berries, minerals and bitter chocolate. Finishes with nicely supported ripe tannins and superb length.
    Author: Stephen Tanzer
    Issue: May/June 2014

  • Wine Advocate | Rating: 95

    From a 7-acre hillside vineyard overlooking Lake Hennessey, the 2012 Melbury, like its siblings, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new oak for a minimum of 24 to 28 months, then bottled unfiltered. The wine displays beautiful blackberry fruit, some charcoal, loamy soil undertones, forest notes, lots of spice, a full-bodied, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a super finish of 45+ seconds. Even in a vintage like 2012, this wine ideally needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for 30+ years.
    Drink Dates: 2018 - 2048
    Author: Robert Parker
    Issue: 221

  • Vinous | Rating: 95

    The 2012 Melbury is in a perfect spot today. Radiant and succulent to the core, the 2012 captures the essence of the vintage in its racy, succulent personality. The 2012 is not a huge wine, but it is quite open and accessible. Overall, though, the 2012 lacks the pop and sheer energy of the finest vintages in this vertical.
    Drink Dates: 2020 - 2037
    Author: Antonio Galloni
    Issue: Nov 2017

  • Wine Spectator | Rating: 92

    Young and unevolved, with dusty, cedary tannins outlining the dried berry, currant, cassis and licorice notes. Ends with a gravelly mouthfeel.
    Drink Dates: 2017-2030
    Author: James Laube
    Issue: Nov 15, 2015
Back
  • No collector reviews available
    • Back
    In his ongoing quest to produce world class wine in the tradition of 1st Growth Bordeaux, Bill Harlan - of Harlan Estate fame - started Bond to create single vineyard wines from sources meeting his high growing standards. Winemaker Robert Levy produces five vineyard designate wines: Melbury, St. Eden, Vecina, Pluribus and Quella, as well as a blend called The Matriarch. Levy's goal is for each wine to take on the unique expression of its vineyard site and Bill Harlan's ultimate plan is to produce wines from a total of 6 unique vineyards. The wines are known for their lush, deeply concentrated flavors, and their elegance and finesse, which Bill and Robert feel define them as the "Grand Crus" of Napa. Fewer than 1,500 cases of the Matriarch, and between 400 and 700 cases of the vineyard designates are produced annually.

    See other similar producers:Harlan Estate,Sloan Estate,Colgin Cellars
    Back

    California is the heartland of wine production in the US, and the state that brought prestige to American wine thanks to the pioneers who built early wineries like Staglin, Beringer, Ridge, Mayacamas and Chateau Montelena in the 1800s. Its large geographic area ensures a great diversity in growing sites, varieties grown, and quality levels. Generalizations about the state's wines have numerous exceptions; however, a few key facts generally hold true—ample sunshine, dry weather during the growing season, and moderate winters prevail. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon continue to dominate the state's production—albeit in continually smaller percentages, as growers continue to diversify. More than 100 different varieties can be found throughout the state.

    + Show More- Show Less

    Collector Data For This Wine

    • 233 bottles owned
    • 96 collectors