Proprietary Red
There was no 2002 made due to the transition to a single vineyard designate wine starting in 2003.
This wine comes entirely from hillside vineyards located exclusively in the Napa Valley. It is a densely purple-colored wine. The aromatics of this wine make it very enticing. Loaded with rich black fruit, smokiness and perfumed notes of violet and vanilla. The wine is dense, with lush succulent fruit exhibiting extreme richness, depth and complexity. Its finish is long with polished tannins and superb balance.
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Napa Valley
Production: 320 cases of 750ml; 60 bottles of 1.5L
Bottling: August 2003
Aging: 20 months in 59 gallon barres; 65% new oak
Release: Spring 2004
"...it is the finest example of this offering Philippe Melka has yet fashioned.
Powerful yet well-delineated, rich and surprisingly light on its feet..."
- Robert Parker, Jr. - December, 2005
This wine comes entirely from hillside vineyards located exclusively in the Napa Valley. The color is a deep, dark, and dense red. The nose gives notes of earthiness, coffee bean, vanilla, coconut, dark chocolate, cocoa and violet. The mouthfeel is big, viscous and full of complexity with layers of ripe black fruits, sweet cherry, and licorice followed by a finish that is long and lush. This wine is structured, with well-integrated tannins that will allow it to age gracefully.
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc
100% Napa Valley
Production: 585 cases of 750ml; 150 bottles of 1.5 L
Bottling: June 2002
Aging: 20 months in 59 gallon barrels; 65% new oak
Release: Spring 2003
"a sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with licorice, minerals and toasty oak. . .
it is an elegant offering to enjoy during it's first 10 - 12 years."
- Robert Parker Jr., - August 2002
This wine comes entirely from hillside vineyards located exclusively in the Napa Valley. The color is a deep, dark, and dense red. The nose has extremely complex layers of dark fruits, exotic dry fruits, cola, oil, hazelnut and vanilla with silkiness and clove spice. The wine is well structured, elegant and seductive. It shows concentration with a long ripe finish.
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc
100% Napa Valley
Production: 450 cases of 750ml; 30 cases of 1.5L
Bottling: July 2001
Aging: 20 months in 59 gallon barrels; 65% new oak
Release: Spring 2002
Recommended to hold.
"Combining Bordeaux's elegant, highly nuanced style with Napa's sweet, ripe, concentrated fruit,
its French sensitivity is accompanied by wonderful opulence and purity."
- Robert Parker Jr., - August 2000
This wine comes entirely from hillside vineyards located exclusively in the Napa Valley. Tasting like a Pomerol, chocolate essence, rich with blackberry aromas. A very rich and dense wine, finishing with sweet and harmonious tannins.
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc
100% Napa Valley
Production: 450 cases of 750ml; 30 cases of 1.5L
Bottling: June 2000
Aging: 20 months in 59 gallon barrels; 65% new oak
Release: Spring 2001
Recommended to drink or hold.
"A gorgeously-proportioned, full-bodied, dark purplecolored effort with superb density,
soft, sweet tannin, a generous constitution, and copious quantities of blackberry and cassis."
- Robert Parker Jr., - December, 2000
Elegant, clean, focused, minty, soy, leather and ripe berries are the descriptive for the nose. The mouthfeel is concentrated with big and powerful tannins. The wine starts with spice and chocolate followed by a greatly textured mid-palate and finishing with firm tannins.
53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc
100% Napa Valley
Production: 450 cases of 750ml; 25 cases of 1.5L
Bottling: July 1999
Aging: 20 months in 59 gallon barrels; 55% new oak
Release: Spring 2000
Recommended to hold
"Full bodied and velvety-textured, this opulent, hedonistic, gorgeously textured wine is already thrilling to drink."
- Robert Parker Jr., - December, 2000
Complex bouquet of sweet corn, rose petal, black tea, tobacco, cedar, cigar box and orange flower. The mouthfeel shows softness and elegance, the flavors feel ripe and the wine finishes with ripe, soft and well-integrated tannins.
40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot
100% NAPA VALLEY
Complex bouquet of sweet corn, rose petal, black tea, tobacco, cedar, cigar box and orange flower. The mouthfeel shows softness and elegance, the flavors feel ripe and the wine finishes with ripe, soft and well-integrated tannins.
Production: 240 cases of 750ml; 20 cases of 1.5L
Bottling: June 1998
Aging: 20 months in 59 gallon barrels; 65% new oak
Release: Spring 1999
Recommended to drink now.