2012 BOND Melbury
UNITED STATES / CALIFORNIA / NAPA
- 95 WA
- 92 WS
- 95 IWC
- 100 JS
- Variety
Proprietary Blend
Out of stock
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 SucklingIssue: 20 Apr, 2015International 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 TanzerIssue: May/June 2014Wine 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 - 2048Author: Robert ParkerIssue: 221Vinous | 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 - 2037Author: Antonio GalloniIssue: Nov 2017Wine 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: 2017-2030Author: James LaubeIssue: Nov 15, 2015
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
See other similar producers:Harlan Estate,Sloan Estate,Colgin Cellars
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.
Collector Data For This Wine
- 233 bottles owned
- 96 collectors