2024 Melville Estate Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills

The west side of the Melville estate takes the Pacific wind head on. That is where they planted the Chardonnay.

The Melvilles put these vines in the ground in 1997, four years before Sta. Rita Hills became an official appellation. Ron Melville founded the estate, and his son Chad is head winegrower today. It is family-owned and 100% estate. Every grape comes from vineyards they own and farm themselves, using organic methods. Chad built the reputation on the site rather than on cellar tricks, and this bottling shows why.

The soil on that west side is sandy loam, poor in nutrients and fast-draining. The wind off the ocean is cold and it does not let up. Vines that work that hard give concentrated fruit and hold on to their acidity. This bottling blends nine Chardonnay selections. Mount Eden, Hanzell, Hudson and Wente are in there, plus one the family selected themselves.

In the cellar they do very little. The fruit is picked by hand and pressed as whole clusters. It ferments and ages on its lees in neutral French oak, barrels more than 15 years old. There is no malolactic fermentation, so the acidity stays where the vineyard put it. They made 1,780 cases.

What you get is dry, citrus-driven Chardonnay with real weight in the middle and a salty, mouthwatering finish. If you drink Chablis, this is the California bottle I would hand you. Chad Melville pours it with a Caesar salad. I would add oysters or a roast chicken.