Bond - Melbury 2019

JAMES SUCKLING: "Black-cherry and floral aromas with some pine needles. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, dusty tannins. Creamy and medium-round with fine, velvety tannins. Such finesse and refinement. Goes on for minutes. So drinkable now, but needs time to come around and soften. Better after 2027."

DECANTER: "From the Melbury vineyard off Greenfield Road above St Helena. Soils are of oceanic origins with fine quality clay which Bob Levy, director of winegrowing, says 'gives the wine silkiness'. Indeed, the mid-palate weight is generous, with a sumptuous texture, rich tannins and ripe red cherry, plum and boysenberry fruit notes, echoing generous aromas tinged with wild herbs that emerge on the palate as dried wild sage and red florals. The finish is long and punctuated by chocolate and crushed stones."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Starting off the single vineyards, the 2019 Melbury comes from clay soils located north of Lake Hennessey. Redcurrants, cassis, chalky minerality, lead pencil, and camphor notes all emerge on the nose, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has silky, polished tannins, and an incredible finish. This is always one of the more seamless, elegant wines in the lineup. It will evolve for three decades."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The BOND Melbury 2019 is deep garnet-purple in color. It comes out swinging with punchy notes of black and red cherry preserves, warm cassis, and blackberry pie, followed by hints of Indian spices, charcuterie, and black olives. The full-bodied palate is so, so plush with a lively backbone to give a lift to the rich fruit, finishing long and impactful."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "From a clay-rich, south-southwest-facing site overlooking Lake Hennessey, the 2019 Melbury boasts a decadent, almost Pomerol-like nose of ripe black cherries. It just oozes lushness from every pore, being full-bodied, rich and supple in the mouth, with a long, plush finish and graceful notes of pine and red cherries."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Starts with a nice lush feel to the cassis and plum puree flavors, then steadily picks up grip along the way, with warm cast iron and loam hints running underneath before blossoming through the finish, which pulls in additional singed cedar and savory notes. More like an '18 in style with the back end grip."