Recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wine, and Many More. Check out our recent press.

Award-winning SF wine shop – free local delivery & fast nationwide shipping. Learn more
Sold out

Melville Sta. Rita Hills Estate Chardonnay 2024

$4199

Melville is one of the standard-bearers of the Sta. Rita Hills, a 100% estate, organically farmed operation in the coolest, foggiest corner of Santa Barbara County. The Melville family planted everything themselves and bet entirely on cool-climate grapes, and their Estate Chardonnay is a textbook expression of why this place works so well for the variety. Crisp ocean breezes and well-drained soils give a white with real cut and energy, all citrus and orchard fruit over a chalky, mineral spine. It's the kind of California Chardonnay that prioritizes tension and freshness over weight. A reliably delicious pour.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • If the wine is less than 10 years old and it is corked, you may return it to us for a full refund or exchange within 60 days of purchase. You must show us proof of purchase. We understand that you may not live near a shop and that it is difficult to ship open bottles of wine to us, so if there's any problem feel free to Contact Us and we'll work it out.
  • For wines older than 10 years, the consumer bears the risk of a faulty cork, but we accept returns of older bottles if the wine is faulty as a result of improper storage. Please come by the store or Contact Us if there is a problem.
  • We may, at our discretion and to the extent permitted by law, accept returns of unopened wines within 30 days of purchase if they were properly stored by the purchaser, subject to a 15% re-stocking fee.

View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Monday - Friday: 11am - 8pm

Saturday: 12pm - 5pm

CLOSED SUNDAYS

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (415) 780-1405


Add your content here

Antonio Galloni

92 points

"The 2024 Chardonnay Estate is bright, fresh and youthful. Concentrated yellow fruit, mint, chamomile and chalk are underpinned by a zippy, forceful spine of lemon-drop acidity. Salty olive-brine notes on the finish draw a straight line to the Sta. Rita Hills. This is very expressive in the early going, especially considering its very recent bottling." —Billy Norris

Robert Parker

92 points

"The 2024 Chardonnay Estate beams from the glass with a floral, vibrant bouquet of citrus blossoms, green apples and mint. The palate is sleek, slender and refreshing, closing with a similarly bright, precise finish that continues its citrus-driven profile before lingering with subtle, nutty nuances. This is a solid, contemporary expression of Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay to enjoy over the next 5–7 years." —Matthew Luczy

More about Melville

After a long career growing some of the most sought-after fruit in Sonoma County’s Knights Valley, Ron Melville wanted to make California's best cold climate wines. This desire led him to the Santa Rita Hills in the windswept, foggy western edge of the Santa Ynez Valley where he founded Melville Estate Winery in 1996. Today, with the help of his son Ron, the estate is one of California's most highly regarded.

The best Pinots grown in California mostly seem to come from remote sites, and there aren't many sites more remote than the Santa Rita Hills. Even though it's home to one of Santa Barbara’s most important pioneering vineyards, Sanford and Benedict, it took over twenty years for the intrepid winemakers to realize its potential for crafting elegant and complex Pinot Noir.

That being said, for most of its history the Santa Rita Hills, along with the rest of Santa Barbara County has produced what one might say is the dominant style of California Pinot. Rich bold wines, with very smooth and silky textures and a sweetness of fruit that can sometimes make them difficult to pair with food. Ron Melville saw the potential to do something different with his cool, cool vineyards, and with the help of his family and the nonpareil winemaking talents of Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton, he decide to craft fresh, vivid and complex Pinots.

Believing that the best wines are made in the vineyard, Melville only produces wines from their meticulously farmed estate. Alongside the exceptional Pinots, Melville also produces Chardonnay and Syrah that are equally elegant.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Chardonnay

  • Vintage

    2024

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Sustainable

  • Style

    Earthy , Minerally

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Roast chicken, grilled halibut, crab cakes, or a creamy risotto.

Tasting Profile

Medium-bodied white, dry, with citrus, orchard fruit, a mineral edge and bright acidity.