California Classics

wines

The 2006 Melbury has a dense plum/purple color and a big, sweet, scorched earth, crème de cassis and blueberry nose, with hints of charcoal, spice box, and graphite. Rich, well-made, and showing exceptionally well from bottle, it is a wine that will certainly evolve for 25 or more years.Robert Parker | 94 RPThe 2006 Melbury is dark, chewy and a bit rough around the edges. Even so, it has aged well and retains enough freshness to drink well for another decade or more. Mocha, plum, black cherry and spice infuse the super-expressive finish.Vinous Media | 94 VMThis is very perfumed with currants and flowers. I love the nose. Very balanced and deep full bodied wine with a long silky finish. I really like the texture and finesse to this. Very fascinating. Better in a year or two. 14+24+23+33. Find the wineJames Suckling | 94 JSStarts with a beautiful ruby color that’s so pretty and gleaming. Appeals right away for its rich, attractive sour cherry candy, vanilla and anise aromas and flavors that are well-integrated with smoky oak. The tannins are firm, but ultra-refined, and the finish is entirely dry. A well-made, elegant wine of place that needs time. 2012–2018.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEFrom the Sloson Vineyard on the east side of Lake Hennessy, these vines are cooled by the lake and grow in dense clay. They produced a big, juicy red in 2006, a soft, luscious wine that feels dense and full. This comes across as warmer and riper than Bond’s other single-vineyard releases, a more immediate pleasure for drinking over the next several years.Wine & Spirits Magazine | 91 W&SI had a very hard time getting a firm read on any of the 2006 bottlings from Bond Estates and was under the distinct impression that I was not favorably impressed by the style of wines here, until I tasted the 2005s, which really had snapped nicely into focus, had gobbled up the lion’s share of their new wood and showed truly excellent quality in their more modern styles. So with the 2006 Melbury (and this is true for all of the other 2006s from Bond), please take into account that the wine was still more than a tad grumpy and adolescent when I tasted it and is very likely to come in at the high range of my range if it evolves as positively as its 2005 counterparts. The nose today on the ’06 Melbury is quite intriguing in its mix of black raspberries, plums, tobacco, chocolate, allspice and spicy new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and shows a fair bit of complexity on the attack, but with rather aggressive, uncovered oak tannins currently dominating the slightly green (from wood?) finish. There is excellent length and grip here behind the wood tannins, and one assumes that there is plenty of stuffing to eventually carry the wood, but for now, the wood tannins make this wine pretty disagreeable to drink and cellaring is emphatically required. (Drink between 2016 - 2035)John Gilman | 89-92 JG

Not surprisingly, the 2007 St. Eden flirts with perfection. Another Pauillac look-alike, it offers up glorious aromas of cedarwood, crème de cassis, spice box, high class unsmoked cigar tobacco, roasted herbs and a hint of mocha. The complex aromas brilliantly conceal the long aging in new French oak. This compelling, singular, full-bodied, multilayered, sensational Cabernet Sauvignon can be drunk early (because of the flamboyance and unctuosity of the vintage), but promises to provide thrilling consumption in 30+ years.Robert Parker | 99 RPRacy and explosive on the palate, with soft curves and exceptional balance, the 2007 St. Eden dazzles from the very first taste. Still very young and quite dense, the 2007 has more than enough richness to drink well for many years to come. The 2007 captures the opulence and sensuality that is so typical of the wines of Eastern Oakville. Simply put, the 2007 St. Eden is a total knockout.Vinous Media | 98 VMNice dark fruits, fresh mushrooms, and flowers on the nose. Reminiscent of an Amarone or two I’ve had. Full bodied, with loads of fruit on top of a thick and deep palate. This is very balanced and pretty. Pull the cork after 2015. Some might find it a little over the top, but it’s just in balance. 15+23+24+34. Find the wineJames Suckling | 96 JSRipe, juicy, vivid blackberry, black cherry, currant, sage and dusty, cedary oak form a tight core of flavors. Full-bodied, intense and expansive, gaining depth, focus, length and complexity on the lingering finish. To be released spring 2011. Best from 2013 through 2024. 406 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 2008 The Maiden is a beautiful wine graced with exquisite finesse in its dark red berries, flowers and licorice. Gorgeous inner perfume and a super-refined personality are some of the qualities found in the 2008 Maiden. A weightless, subtle finish rounds things out nicely. Stylistically the 2008 Maiden is quite a bit more delicate – at times even fleeting – next to the 2008 Harlan Estate. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThe 2008 The Maiden is a beautiful wine graced with exquisite finesse in its dark red berries, flowers and licorice. Gorgeous inner perfume and a super-refined personality are some of the qualities found in the 2008 Maiden. A weightless, subtle finish rounds things out nicely. Stylistically the 2008 Maiden is quite a bit more delicate – at times even fleeting – next to the 2008 Harlan Estate.Vinous Media | 92 VMLoamy earth notes and mouthcoating tannins provide the baseline for this rich, layered effort, which is full-bodied, with toned-down dried currant, mocha, spice, cedar and sage notes. Drink now through 2020. 988 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

The 2009 Proprietary Blend The Maiden wraps around the palate with dark cherries, plums, cinnamon, cloves and new leather. This is a surprisingly muscular style for the year, with quite a bit less of the early appeal than is found in many other wines. The aromas and flavors remain dark, powerful and brooding from start to finish. Flowers, cinnamon and mint add further complexity on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2009 Proprietary Blend The Maiden wraps around the palate with dark cherries, plums, cinnamon, cloves and new leather. This is a surprisingly muscular style for the year, with quite a bit less of the early appeal than is found in many other wines. The aromas and flavors remain dark, powerful and brooding from start to finish. Flowers, cinnamon and mint add further complexity on the finish.Vinous Media | 93 VMIntense and richly tannic, with notes of dried currant, smoke, dried flowers, licorice and graphite. Impressive for its density and concentration, both of which bode well for the future. Best from 2014 through 2025. 1,400 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Once again, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon pays homage to the 2007, but the aromas and flavors seems to be just a touch brighter, which might just be a function of the wine’s age. A wine of remarkable precision, the 2009 is totally dialed in from start to finish. Layers of intensely sweet, perfumed fruit are woven together with remarkable elegance and sheer polish. Today, the 2009 isn’t quite as radiant as it has been in the past, and seems headed for a stubborn phase. It is still striking, though. Even if a bit less exotic than the 2007, the two wines share a silkiness and overall sense of textural finesse. A translucent, weightless finish rounds things out in style. The 2009 is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RPOnce again, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon pays homage to the 2007, but the aromas and flavors seems to be just a touch brighter, which might just be a function of the wine's age. A wine of remarkable precision, the 2009 is totally dialed in from start to finish. Layers of intensely sweet, perfumed fruit are woven together with remarkable elegance and sheer polish. Today, the 2009 isn't quite as radiant as it has been in the past, and seems headed for a stubborn phase. It is still striking, though. Even if a bit less exotic than the 2007, the two wines share a silkiness and overall sense of textural finesse. A translucent, weightless finish rounds things out in style. The 2009 is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot.Vinous Media | 98 VMA stunningly seamless effort, rich and elegant, this delivers perfumed black currant aromas that are supple and graceful, building and gaining with subtle tannins, laced with loamy earth. A dash of black licorice marks the long finish. Drink now through 2028. 750 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WS

Mindlblowing nose with spearmint, cloves and blackberries. Floral, too. Full body with phenomenal detail featuring delicate but intense blackberry, espresso, toasted oak, caramel and dark chocolate. Cedar and sweet tobacco. Finesse all over. The wine of the vintage? Everything is there. Great energy. Best in 2018.James Suckling | 98 JSA vivid, nuanced wine, the 2011 Screaming Eagle is absolutely impeccable. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke and licorice open up in the glass, followed by more savory notes that develop later. The 2011 gets better and better in the glass, as the flavors become even more precise and chiseled. Hints of pencil shavings, leather, cedar and menthol add nuance on the super-expressive finish. This is a stellar showing from Screaming Eagle.Vinous Media | 96 VMMade from a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2011 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is a sexy, upfront, precociously styled wine exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color as well as lots of licorice, camphor, black currant jam, new oak and spice box characteristics. Dense, rich and impressive, the early drinking charm of the 2011 vintage gives it immediate appeal. It should keep for 10-15 years.Under the ownership of Stan Kroenke, this vineyard has been replanted and a new cellar has been constructed. The production of Screaming Eagle has remained between 700-1,000 cases, and a second wine, the Second Flight, includes 520-800 cases. The introduction of a second wine is an attempt to keep Screaming Eagle at its mythical level of quality. This vineyard, situated on the valley floor at the Oakville Crossroads across the road from the Rudd Estate, encompasses 60 acres, but only a small percentage is used for these two cuvees. Based on the three vintages I tasted, it appears the Second Flight wines include much less Cabernet Sauvignon and more Merlot than the flagship Screaming Eagle.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

The 2012 The Maiden is super-refined, polished and expressive. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, mint, pine and cinnamon are some of the signatures. Open-knit and medium in body, the Maiden is racy and super-polished to the core. It is feminine, lifted in style and well-suited to near-term drinking.Vinous Media | 93 VMThe 2012 The Maiden displays soft blackcurrant liqueur notes, as well as cedar wood, forest floor, underbrush, and hints of white chocolate and espresso. It is broad, savory, sexy and opulent. Drink it over the next 12-15+ years.Robert Parker | 92 RPExhibits a dusty, dried herb savoriness amid dark berry, cedar and new leather scents, ending with fine-grained, gripping tannins and a touch of mocha. To be released spring 2016. Drink now through 2028. 1,208 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The grand vin 2013 Screaming Eagle is pure perfection in a glass and has everything you could want from a wine. Possessing a Château Margaux-like perfume of crème de cassis, sandalwood, dried flowers/violets, and graphite, it’s full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, ultra-pure, and incredibly elegant, all of which is very much in the style of this iconic estate. There are plenty of tannins on the finish so this will ideally be given another 3-4 years of bottle age, but it should keep for 25-30 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDBreathtaking aromas of blueberries, wet earth, black truffle, vine bark, and lavender undertones. Full-bodied, yet tight and compressed with fabulous savory and dark-fruit flavors. It lasts for minutes on the finish. The classicism in this wine is second to none. Incredible subtlety and a lovely austerity. Beauty in simplicity. Glorious to taste, yet a wine for decades ahead. 76% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, and 11% cabernet franc. 800 cases made.James Suckling | 100 JSDark cassis, graphite and rich soil tones marry in a bouquet of notable purity, introducing a polished, rich and sophisticatedly savoury wine, impressive for its complexity, completeness and elegance. Nick Gislason, one of Napa Valley's most thoughful and compelling personalities, may well be crafting the most successful wines Screaming Eagle has ever produced. Interestingly, this address is now one of the earliest to harvest in all of Oakville. Drinking Window 2018 - 2040.Decanter | 99 DECContinuing along a similar theme, the 2013 Screaming Eagle is incredibly concentrated and powerful. Today, the 2013 tastes like a concoction of liquefied rocks, crème de cassis, blackberry jam and lavender. Deep, dense and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2013 captivates all the senses with its majestic complexity. With time in the glass, the 2013 gets better and better, to the point I would have liked to follow it over several hours and perhaps days, which was not practical. Screaming Eagle fans will not want to miss the 2013s, although these wines will not be ready to deliver maximum pleasure for a number of years.Vinous Media | 98+ VMThe 2013 Screaming Eagle flagship wine is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. As one might expect, the purity of the cassis, which is always a hallmark of this estate and wine, is well-displayed in this beauty. Dense purple in color, it offers up some floral notes intermixed with damp earth, blackcurrant jam, blackberry and hints of licorice and incense. This reminds me somewhat of the 2010 Screaming Eagle. Full-bodied, rich, but perfectly balanced, it’s another terrific example of this iconic estate. It should drink well for 30 or more years.Robert Parker | 97+ RPPure and focused, with a tight, aromatic mix of loamy earth, graphite, lead pencil, dark berry and currant flavors. Slow to unfold, this shows a pleasing tannic grip. The gravelly berry flavors glide along on the finish. Best from 2020 through 2032. 800 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Extremely perfumed with blackberries, currants and flower. Rose petals, too. Seductive. Medium to full body. It grows on the palate with an extremely long finish that goes on for minutes. The tannins are ultra-fine and polished. Purity and essence to this. Feminine yet wild and unpredictable. Available in March. Better in 2021.James Suckling | 99 JSA perfumed bouquet of crushed cassis, violet, woodsmoke and incipient truffle introduces a rich, layered and superbly pure wine. It has fine-grained tannins, juicy acidity and lovely reserve, depth and tension at the core. Under Nick Gislason, Screaming Eagle's inherent potential for elegance and perfume is being fully realised. Drinking Window 2020 - 204Decanter | 97 DECThe 2014 Screaming Eagle comes in behind the 2012 and 2013, yet is nevertheless a brilliant wine that holds true to the vintage and the style of the estate. Made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it offers up gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, white chocolate, spice, and graphite. Full-bodied and powerful, yet always light on its feet and seamless, it has the hallmark elegance of this estate as well as awesome purity of fruit and building tannin. You can safely drink bottles anytime over the coming 20+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDThe 2014 Screaming Eagle is an 880-case blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. The telltale sign of this iconic wine is its extraordinary purity of crème de cassis fruit, which is displayed abundantly in the 2014. It doesn’t quite have the structure and mass of the 2013, but this sexy, up-front, opaque ruby/purple-colored wine is seamlessly constructed, full-bodied, and has a long finish with silky tannins. This seems to float across that palate with that great fruit purity that is a characteristic of Screaming Eagle. Drink it over the next 25+ years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPToday, the 2014 Screaming Eagle comes across as dark and imposing, but this is a preliminary blend that according to winemaker Nick Gislason may see the addition of other lots to provide more upper register nuances. Still, there is no shortage of personality or depth here. Plum, lavender and spice meld into the powerful finish. Although it is quite early, the 2014 is just as impressive as the separate lots where when I tasted them in the spring. In particular, I very much like the sense of energy here.Vinous Media | 97 VMBeautifully crafted, young and energetic, with a vibrant core of rich blackberry, gravelly earth and smoky, toasty oak. Lively acidity and firm tannins provide a backbone, promising a long life ahead. Best from 2020 through 2034. 880 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS