This wine is 100% from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate and is a combination of clones 4, 76, 95, and selections Mount Eden, Hanzell and Wente. It is their core Chardonnay and comes predominantly from their west side vineyards that have several different types of sandy soils. Because the west side receives the brunt of brutal ocean-winds and has only poor soils, we feel this Chardonnay always captures the vibrancy, minerality and concentrated flavors that are hallmarks of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.
ANTONIO GALLONI 94 POINTS - "The 2023 Chardonnay Estate is exquisite. Floral and lifted, with striking precision, the Melville Chardonnay makes such a strong case for why Chardonnay is so ideally suited here. Lemon confit, jasmine and light tropical inflections are some of the notes that grace this sublimely elegant white. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish. I would give the 2023 six months to a year in bottle, as it is pretty tightly wound at this stage."
JEB DUNNUCK 93 POINTS - "Ripe lemon and citrus fruits, some minty herbs, and chalky minerality all emerge from the 2023 Chardonnay Estate Sta. Rita Hills, a clean, vibrant, focused Chardonnay that has solid acidity, beautiful overall balance and texture, and a great finish. The estate comes all from the Melville Vineyard and was raised in neutral oak, hitting 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.27."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - "The 2023 Chardonnay Estate spent 10 months in barrique without malolactic fermentation. It opens with clay, green apple, jasmine and citrus rind aromas framed with a touch of reduction. The palate is linear, focused and acid-driven, pleasantly bolstered by a touch of phenolic richness through the saline finish. Readers who enjoy laser-focused expressions of Chardonnay will find much to love here."
ANTONIO GALLONI 94 POINTS - "The 2023 Chardonnay Estate is exquisite. Floral and lifted, with striking precision, the Melville Chardonnay makes such a strong case for why Chardonnay is so ideally suited here. Lemon confit, jasmine and light tropical inflections are some of the notes that grace this sublimely elegant white. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish. I would give the 2023 six months to a year in bottle, as it is pretty tightly wound at this stage."
JEB DUNNUCK 93 POINTS - "Ripe lemon and citrus fruits, some minty herbs, and chalky minerality all emerge from the 2023 Chardonnay Estate Sta. Rita Hills, a clean, vibrant, focused Chardonnay that has solid acidity, beautiful overall balance and texture, and a great finish. The estate comes all from the Melville Vineyard and was raised in neutral oak, hitting 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.27."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 92 POINTS - "The 2023 Chardonnay Estate spent 10 months in barrique without malolactic fermentation. It opens with clay, green apple, jasmine and citrus rind aromas framed with a touch of reduction. The palate is linear, focused and acid-driven, pleasantly bolstered by a touch of phenolic richness through the saline finish. Readers who enjoy laser-focused expressions of Chardonnay will find much to love here."
Overall Rating
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