12 Magnificent Melchiors From Ray Signorello Jr’s Cellar

The 30 acres of vines at Signorello Estate were first planted in 1980 by Ray and his father, and the estate vineyard still includes a five-acre parcel of its original Chardonnay vines; that’s the varietal by which the winery first earned its name, before adding superb Cabernet Sauvignon to its roster a decade later. And it’s that magnificent red wine which forms the core of this exclusive offering for Robb Report: a dozen Melchiors of Padrone, Signorello’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon. Each 18 liter bottle holds two cases of wine, and weighs almost 1000 lbs. Owner Ray Signorello Jr has personally selected Melchiors from some of most acclaimed vintages of the last two decades, all scoring at least 92 points from the Wine Advocate; they’re a legacy purchase for anyone keen to build a cellar that can be passed down the generations.

Hospitality is at the core of the Signorello operation, as it was one of the first vineyards in the area to emphasize wine’s place at the table, elevating food and wine pairings for the first time. You’ll be able to experience that for yourself via a five-course meal for 12 at the winery, freshly rebuilt with cutting-edge technologies – including 100% off-grid power - after it was destroyed in the 2017 Atlas fire. There is a new standalone wing for hosting guests, which you’ll exclusively take over in the company of Ray Signorello Jr himself and his winemaker, Michael Costley. Together, you’ll enjoy a meal featuring Signorello wines and wines from Ray’s personal cellar, full of more than 2,000 bottles he’s collected over the last four decades.