2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson

From a rock site on Pritchard Hill, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard has a killer bouquet of crushed stone, new leather, flowery incense, blackberries, and blackcurrants. Already complex and nuanced aromatically, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, expansive texture, plenty of ripe tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following two decades.

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard captures all of the riveting beauty of the vintage in this hillside site just opposite Colgin. A backbone of tannin and bright acids give the 2018 fabulous vibrancy and a real sense of energy. Crushed red berries, mocha, leather, licorice and crushed rocks all race out of the glass. The 2018 is wonderfully vivid and pure.

Greg Melanson’s vineyard on Pritchard Hill is very steep, with rows running up and down the hill directly across from Colgin Winery. Beyond Colgin, its rocky face looks down at Napa Valley’s floor. The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard is a little broody to begin, needing a good amount of swirling to reveal notes of chocolate-covered cherries, crème de cassis, molten licorice and preserved plums with hints of espresso, sautéed herbs and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with taut, muscular black fruit and supported by a firm foundation of grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. 360 cases were produced.