Melanson Vineyard Matthew‘s Block Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2017

Those who have been to a tasting at ACME have most likely heard us divulge our undying love for Melanson Vineyards on Pritchard Hill. We have been honored to offer a vertical collection of these special wines over the last few years and this latest bottling of the 2017 vintage is the cherry on top. 2017 is said to be the finest vintage yet in a five year stretch of exceptional vintages in the Napa Valley. And this bottling of Melanson substantiates that claim. A true hidden gem sitting in the very center of Pritchard Hill, the most prestigious sub-region in the valley, the Melanson Vineyard is simply as good as it gets. The Melanson Vineyard Story: Some of the most elite and coveted wines from the Napa Valley come from a distinct and exceptional area east of Oakville on Pritchard Hill. These treasured vineyards are said to have the sophistication of Oakville but with the extra intensity of a hillside vineyard. Ranging between 800-2000 feet in elevation, these vineyards shine well above the fog line that blankets over the Napa Valley floor in the mornings, and are planted in volcanic red clay, loam soil providing mineral driven, intensely flavored grapes with thick skins. Only a handful of wineries are perched up on this illustrious hill. Napa Valley's Royals...

You know the names: Continuum, Colgin, Ovid, Chappellet, Bryant Family. In the heart of Pritchard Hill sits the Melanson Vineyard, surrounded by these stately names and cult wines. Greg Melanson bought this exceptional property in 1988 with 10.5 acres of vineyards on it and sold his grapes to the most sought-after winemakers in the valley including Thomas Brown, Heidi Barrett, and Celia Welch. From 2004-2007, he quietly made a small amount for his own production, but in early 2008, after joining with winemaker Jeff Fontanella, he decided to start sharing his wine under his own label. While you will see a handful of vintners still sourcing from this vineyard, Greg's own bottling under the Melanson label you will hardly see outside of California. And if you peruse the Pritchard Hill neighborhood to see what Greg's neighbors are selling their wine for (some as much as 8 times as much!) you will discover that this is one of the most incredible values in the valley. 

The 2017 vintage of Melanson Cabernet is yet another superior example of the potential of this celebrated vineyard. The common thread of this vineyard of structured tannins, sturdy backbone of acidity, and deep, concentrated hillside fruit are at the center of this wine. Though all the fruit was harvested well before the fires started in 2017, they had dropped a lot of fruit prior due to the heat spikes to concentrate flavors and promote balance. The result is wine with great intensity and complexity with only a few barrels produced. Deep garnet-purple in color, this has explosive aromas of fresh baked blackberry pie, warm cassis, and dark black cherry with savory notes of crushed violet, black tea, sage and graphite. Like the 2013 & 2015, this is full-bodied with firm, ripe, grainy tannins, vibrant dark fruit, followed by a defined, persistent finish, making this another great vintage that is cellar-worthy and certain to impress for many years to come. Only 100 cases produced.