Bond Melbury 2021

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Bond
Label Name:
 
Melbury
Vintage:
 
2021
Country:
 
United States
Region:
 
Napa Valley (Melbury vineyard, Pritchard Hill)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon (single-vineyard, predominantly 100%)
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
James Suckling 98; Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown) 98; Decanter 97; Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 96; Jeb Dunnuck 95

Tasting Note
Concentrated black and red fruits (blackberry, cassis, plum) with graphite, violet, pine-needle, truffle and pepper spice. Velvety yet firm grainy tannins, bright freshness and a long, polished, slightly orange-peel-accented finish.

Food Pairing
Western: grilled ribeye, roast leg of lamb, venison, aged hard cheeses. Asian: Korean BBQ (bulgogi/galbi), Sichuan-style beef, Peking duck, char siu or soy-braised short ribs.

Production Method
Small-lot fermentation and extended maceration of Melbury Cabernet; matured ~18–22 months in predominantly new French oak barrels; typically bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Vineyard Info
BOND Estates (founded by Bill Harlan, 1997) sources Melbury from a ~7-acre Pritchard Hill site above Lake Hennessey; known for rocky/sedimentary clay soils and limited-production, terroir-driven Cabernet.