Finally getting around to posting wines from my annual Napa trip from two weeks ago. Always goes by quick! Lots of fun new stops this year.
It was my first time trying Moone-Tsai wines aside from their widely distributed Napa Valley Cab, so some of these were totally brand new to me. Melka is the winemaker.
Much more rich and dark fruited compared to the Howell Mountain. This is a blend of vineyards from Pritchard Hill, Caldwell (Coombsville) and St Helena. Very Pritchard Hill like on the nose with herbal crunch, savory graphite and cassis, oozing blackberries and cherry liqueur. Once on the palate, it channels its Coombsville fruit displaying a touch of licorice, candied blue and black fruits, baking spices and espresso. Big, but slightly more approachable than the Howell. — 3 years ago
Another delicious bottle. Drinking at its prime. — 2 months ago
Always amazing! Having it with a Chateaubriand — 4 months ago
Short Rib wine. 👍🏼
Winery notes,
Unique circumstances helped create the monumentally impressive 2013 Le Petit Vice. Proprietor Patrice Breton worked with Paul Hobbs and Mike Smith in the beginning, and finished the wine with the help of Philippe Melka, and Shawn Johnson… Four of Napa Valley’s most accomplished winemakers.
Aged for 22 months in Taransaud and Marques French oak barrels, — 3 years ago
67% Merlot, 33% cab franc, don’t know what the other 1% is? Really like this now that it has some age. I drank other bottles too early. — a year ago
Attended a Parallel Wines private tasting last night. Very nice and classic in style. Didn’t realize how small their production is...less than 600 total cases. This is their 20th year and Melka has been with them from the beginning.
Fun to try next to the ‘14. Aromatically, they are very similar...creme brûlée, marzipan and honeyed pastries. However, there is quite a bit more acidity here that catches you off guard. There are some similarities here to Aubert’s Larry Hyde & Sons Chardonnay. Notes of honeysuckle, sea salt and powdered lemon bar on the palate. A bright expression of Ritchie vineyard. — 3 years ago
Earlier this week, a rep for Crown Point wines hosted a tasting to show off a few of their newer releases. New to me, they are out of Santa Barbara and have the duo of Adam Henkel (former assistant winemaker at Harlan for 8yrs) and Philippe Melka (who came on starting with the ‘15 vintage) making the wines.
This wine is their Estate Selection, which is 73% cab, 16% malbec and 11% merlot. I believe this was the first vintage for this wine. It sports a very soft profile and is made in a riper style. Aromatically it smells of baked boysenberry, fig and mixed berry pie with milk chocolate chips. The ABV is around 15.2% and it shows here. Extracted on the palate with chocolate covered dark fruits, baking spices, nutmeg and Andes mint. — 4 years ago
Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery
5/21/23 Tasting group. Group 3rd, my 3rd. Tomato soup/Merlot. Nice acidity. Getting tired. — 11 days ago