Detail
We put Pritchard Hill in parentheses because it is not an official appellation, but many great wines claim and champion the name. Its neighbor on this legendary hill is Colgin. Greg Melansons vineyard is very steep with rows running up and down the hill. Its rocky face looks down at Napa Valleys floor. Higher elevation and afternoon breezes coming from the Pacific cool the vineyard in the warm afternoons. Ideal real estate for world class Cabernet. The mountain site is rugged, its Sobrante loam soil studded with volcanic rock. At an average elevation of 1,200 feet, the vineyard sits above the fog line and benefits from maximum sun exposure all day. Melanson is a plusher, richer softer expression of a mountain Napa Valley Cabernet than our others. A very steep and rocky hillside vineyard this vintage proves to show minerality and intense dark fruits. We selected 100%Taransaud barrels for Melanson. The drinking window for this wine this wine will be very long.
