Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Bond
Label Name:
 
Melbury
Vintage:
 
2020
Country:
 
United States
Region:
 
Napa Valley (Melbury vineyard — Pritchard Hill / slopes above Lake Hennessey)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
James Suckling 98; Decanter ~96; Vinous (Antonio Galloni) ~95; Jeb Dunnuck ~92 (critical consensus high scores for 2020 Melbury)

Tasting Note
Dark cassis and black cherry with violet and graphite notes, cedar, dark chocolate and baking spice. Silky, precise palate with fine-grained tannins, mineral core and a long, polished finish.

Food Pairing
Dry-aged ribeye, roast lamb, wild mushroom risotto; Peking duck, Korean BBQ (galbi), char siu or braised short ribs; aged hard cheeses (Parmigiano-Reggiano).

Production Method
Hand-harvested Cabernet Sauvignon, small-lot fermentation, typically aged ~20–24 months in new French oak barrels; usually bottled unfiltered to preserve site expression.

Vineyard Info
BOND Estates (Bill Harlan) produces five single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. Melbury is a clay-rich, hillside site near Lake Hennessey chosen for its perfume, elegance and age-worthiness.