Amlés Wines Reflectionist Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018

One of the beautiful aspects of wine is its ability to attract folks from all different walks of life and combine their unique perspectives into one final product for your glass. All have varying histories and experiences but share a common love of this alluring beverage. ACME's team has traveled many different paths to land in wine. I (Carina) journeyed on the culinary route, working in restaurants across the U.S.; Ben came by way of education as a Professor of French in his "past" life; Liz supported a career in textile arts with a side hustle in a fine dining establishment before finding her home in Napa. For the vintners of Amlés Wines, Scott and Sharon, the final bottle of wine represents three tenets:  history, tradition, and art. Every person involved in Amlés' voyage from vine to glass brings their unique wisdom to the blend, with the final ambition of artistry in a bottle. Their 2018 Reflectionist Cabernet is crafted with this notion in mind as a manifestation of the storied vines, the illustrious Oakville terroir, and the celebrated handiwork of winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky.

Scott and Sharon come from distinctly different worlds as an executive in the tech industry and financial services entrepreneur, respectively. Along their journeys, they discovered a mutual passion for wine and, after frequent trips to Napa Valley, purchased an estate in Yountville to start their next chapter. This move came after years of living in Virginia and renovating a 19th-century homestead owned initially by a brother to founding father George Mason. In conjunction with their next chapter in wine has come the couples' philanthropy in their hometown of Leesburg, VA. Their works through the Virts Miller Foundation support over 30 different organizations in the local education systems, cultural groups advocating for music and the arts, and healthcare facilities. This charitable thread runs through to the Amlés label, with sales from every bottle purchased going towards the Leesburg and Northern California communities.

Philippe Melka's path began in 1990 at the acclaimed Château Haut-Brion in Bordeaux, working under the warm sun of harvest time. Despite a short five months at the First Growth house, Philippe learned the great potential of these wines but, more importantly, the need for precision and thoughtful care that starts in the vineyard. Informed by these teachings, he gained more experience at Dominus Estate, Château Pétrus, and Ridge Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He finally broke out on his own with Atelier Melka, where he consults for Napa's crème de la crème of wineries like Tusk, Alejandro Bulgheroni, Dana Estates, and Amlés Wines. At his right hand is Director of Winemaking, Maayan Koschitzky, whose resume includes the heavy hitters of Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, and La Pelle Wines. The two all-stars bring a time-honored sensibility to winemaking that Scott & Sharon believe properly lauds the history of the vines and methods.

In Philippe's words, the 2018 Amlés Wines Reflectionist is "carefully selected and artfully crafted from the finest vineyards in all of Napa Valley, Reflectionist provides grace and style with a nod to the way wines once were." Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from three different Napa Valley sites comprises the final blend of 2018. Aging spanned 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels, reminiscent of the élevage techniques of Bordeaux. On the nose, aromas of Chinese five spice powder, toasted vanilla, and blueberry jam waft over your senses, followed by a palate awash with mocha and blackberries. Tannins hold a firm structure for the sumptuous and rich mouthfeel and fade into a delicately lingering finish. With Scott & Sharon's vision for Amlés, the winemakers' interpretation of the 2018 vintage, and his personal "passion for the energy in the moment" in mind, fine artist JD Miller painted the Reflectionist label to mirror the various layers of history and experience imparted into the wine by its craftsmen.