2013 BOND Melbury
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Tasting notes
Power, depth and tannic clout - all signatures of this great Napa Valley vintage - come through in the 2013 Melbury. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the flavors striking vibrancy. Black cherry, plum, mocha, pine, sage and crushed rocks are some of the notes that flesh out in the glass, but above all else, the 2013 is a wine of structure and myriad shades of dimension. It is also, in my view, the most complete Melbury.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Saturated red-ruby. Sexy floral lift to the pure, highly nuanced aromas of cherry, redcurrant, plum and tobacco, with complicating notes of leather and earth. Plush and fine-grained; elegantly styled but with an intriguing element of wildness and a lightly medicinal aspect. Higher-pitched in the mouth than the 2014 and yet there's an element of silkiness here that reminded me of Merlot. Finishes with substantial dusty, building tannins but thorough ripeness. At once powerful and elegant, this compelling midweight finishes with substantial dusty, building tannins and an impression of perfect ripeness.
One of the many highlights in this tasting, the 2013 Melbury is fabulous. All the Melbury signatures of place - intense red fruit and floral notes in particular - are very much in evidence. There are more than enough supporting tannins and acidity in the background to ensure many years of exceptional drinking.
The brilliant 2013 Melbury ratchets up the level of extract, with an opaque purple color, dense blueberry liqueur-like notes along with white flowers, licorice, and camphor followed by a full-bodied, incredibly seamless, concentrated, multidimensional wine. With its amazing depth and richness, while accessible now, it probably won’t hit its stride for another 5-7 years and last 30-35.