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.
94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Aug 2024)
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.
93 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
Energetic, sleek and vibrant, with pineapple, lemon curd and pomelo notes up front. Touches of fresh ginger, crunchy sea salt and orange blossoms linger on the finish alongside details of matcha and white pepper. Drink now. 2,380 cases made.
93 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator (Jul 2025)
A vivid, bright and polished wine with fresh apples, a smooth texture and subtle, spicy complexity. Fermented in neutral barrels, the wine gives pineapple, lemon and golden apple fruit for a generous palate backed by good acidity and hints of minerality. Drink or hold.
93 points, Jim Gordon, James Suckling (Oct 2024)
Sourced entirely from Melville's Sta. Rita Hills estate, from vines planted in 1997. A mix of Chardonnay clones comprise the blend. Whole cluster pressed and fermented in neutral French oak barrels, then aged in neutral French oak barrels on the lees with no sulfur or malolactic fermentation. Seekers of Chablis-style, laser-focused, bright, acid-driven Chardonnays need look no further than Melville's estate Chardonnay. It is all that and more. From its light lemon-gold colour comes a wine with a pronounced personality framed by a spine of bracing acid tension and layered with lime zest, salty sea spray, and jasmine florals with a bit of orange oil on the long finish. Melville is dedicated to producing cool-climate Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay grown exclusively in its estate vineyards throughout the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, with vines planted mostly on Lompoc dune sand, interspersed with clay loam and shallow hard pans of Monterey shale.
93 points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter (Aug 2024)
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.
92 points, Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate (Oct 2024)
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