2008 Bond Vineyards Melbury Proprietary Blend

2008 Bond Vineyards Melbury

94 JS

From the critics:

95 VM

93 WS

91-93 RP

Featured Review

I really love this now. Blueberry and dark chocolate and minerals on the nose. Full and super fine with wonderfully silky tannins with a long finish. Intense fruit. Meat undertones as well. James Suckling

James Suckling | 94 JS

The 2008 Melbury speaks in soft, hushed tones. All the signatures of this site are in place, but the 2008 is a quiet wine. In the context of this complete vertical, the 2008 feels like walking into a library. Understated and fresh, the 2008 has plenty of life ahead. It will be interesting to see if it emerges from its shell one day. Hints of truffle, leather and spice add the closing shades of nuance. I don’t expect the 2008 to be as long lived as some of the other vintages in this lineup, but it is quite distinctive today.

Vinous Media | 95 VM

The 2008 Melbury flows across the palate with layers of dark sensual fruit, spices, licorice, leather and tobacco. Clean veins of minerality frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. Floral notes add an element of brightness on the close. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91-93 RP

Very rich and refined, chunky and tannic, this full-bodied red offers a pretty core of ripe wild berry and black cherry flavors, with cedar, tobacco, sage and dried currant notes, firming and turning chewy. Best from 2013 through 2024. 468 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.
Subregion	Napa Valley
Appellation	Oakville
Climat/Vineyard	Melbury