Melanson Vineyard Matthew's Block Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014

If you've been in the shop you have most likely heard us wax poetically about this tiny little treasure up on Pritchard Hill. Having known about this vineyard for years under single vineyard bottlings from other wineries (Pulido-Walker, TOR) and knowing that the most revered winemakers in the valley including Celia Welch, Thomas Brown, and Heidi Barrett vie to source fruit from here, it wasn't until last year when Greg Melanson walked into ACME headquarters and put a bottle of his 2013 Cab in my hands and said, "Hey, try it! If you love it, great! If you don't, oh well..." As evidence shows, we LOVED it. We soon featured it in our Kahuna Club and the rest is history. It has been one of the most treasured wines we have included in this prestigious club. In addition, it has been my true pleasure over the last year introducing this wine to guests at our tasting table here at ACME, garnering more loyal fans of this special wine. Over the last few months we have been antsy with anticipation for Greg's next release and at long last... the day has come. 

You know the names: Chappellet, Ovid, Continuum, Colgin, David Arthur, 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. These winemakers (mentioned above) took whatever they could get from this vineyard. From 2004-2008, he quietly made a small amount for his own production, but in early 2010, 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.

Being indicative of this vintage, the 2014 is a little deeper and darker than the 2013. Concentrated aromas of cassis, blueberry, blackberry, graphite, cedar, and spice lay over a rich, full-bodied palate with dark black and blue fruits and hints of sweet oak and cocoa. The tannins are supple and seamlessly integrated and preface a long, silky smooth, yet commanding finish.