Community Tasting Notes 30

• cab blends Does not like this wine: 92 points

  February 3, 2024 - S&E Napa Extravaganza (at Home): NOT blind
  
  Decanted for 2 hours (I would not decant in the future). While a few folks at dinner loved this, it did not do it for me. (DS)
  
  This is more a food wine as it has lost its "punch".
  
  The body has thinned and seems slightly out of balance. It is on the downside of its peak. Melbury is my least favorite of the 5.
  
  Acidity and alcohol in the finish.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• Whisky&Wine Likes this wine: 95 points

  June 27, 2023 - What a difference a decade makes! Last tried in about 2013-14 and this showed way better now. This is now a silky, seamless terroir circus. The hard edges and astringent tannins have faded. This is now firmly in peak drinking range. Lots of currant, sweet red fruits and enough acidity to give some needed lift.
  
  Coating mouthfeel.
  
  Slightly over-extracted fruit flavors hold this back from greatness, but it is very very good.
  
  These Bond wines can really be spectacular- if you have patience. My favorite is the pluribus vineyard…you need to be 15 years in to ride that ride. Mel bury and Vecina in particular seem to start singing a little sooner.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 98 points

  February 9, 2022 - Decanted briefly but needed an hour for puckery tannins to recede although it was delicious from the start. This is what they were striving for in this project: deep, terroir-driven, ageworthy wines. This has mature blackcurrant with giant tannic structure that eventually became satisfyingly supple, with thick, particulate earth combining to fill the palate. A beautiful wine although more plush than refined. Definitely up my alley.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• FoinZap Likes this wine: 97 points

  December 10, 2020 - Decanted and poured. Color is plum with a subtle aspect of brown/orange, purple at the edge, framed by a very thin ring of yellow. Interesting color profile. Nose is a touch earthy with black fruit, maybe a hint of a floral note. Palate is diverse and robust, wonderfully well-balanced. Black fruit, spice, rose essence, eucalyptus, hint of cut grass, pleasantly-integrated, soft tannins. Mid- to full-bodied with a long, warm, soft, vibrating finish. There's even a very subtle numbing effect that is pleasing (e.g. menthol?). I had an earlier miss with this wine, but this bottle is demonstrating what the fuss is about. This is really wonderful...I think the most noteworthy aspect is the sort of flawless balance that you find in truly great wines. So much going on, but nothing yelling "look at me!"

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• eadsaaron Likes this wine: 95 points

  July 13, 2020 - Drink up, but still highly enjoyable. Lots of red fruit, chocolate, slight caramel.

  Comment

Pro Reviews 4

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2004
• Type Red
• Producer BOND
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation Melbury
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Napa Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 20 (1%)
• In Cellars 827 (57%)
• Consumed 592 (41%)

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