Melville Estate Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2021

Melville is one of the few truly family farm operations left. As so many wineries have been snatched up by multinationals, it was refreshing when I called and Chad Melville himself answered the phone.

But don’t get me wrong, just because this is a family operation and all the fruit is estate grown on the family farm, does not mean that it isn’t world class, because it is. When Chad Melville took over winemaking duties – the wine press just seemed to up the ante with annual ratings now firmly in the mid-90s.

They’ve also become a fan favorite of the Nicholas faithful – easily finding a cellar spot next to the premier cru Burgundies. However, as if it couldn’t get any better, Chad’s 2021 Estate Chard just knocked the cover off the ball – coming in at 96 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

This one hits on all cylinders and is an amazing value to boot. It’s a must-have cellar selection for Burgundy and Coastal Chardonnay lovers alike. Taken from the sandy western slopes of the property, the vineyard is under constant bombardment by ice cold ocean winds.