Melka
CJ Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
I finally had the pleasure to try this new vintage release of CJ Melka Cabernet Sauvignon from the legendary Philipe Melka. It was yet another fantastic vintage, but from trying the past 3, it is easily going down as my favorite. This juice, as always, had a very enticing nose. It was rich, and full of notes of dried tobacco leaf, Spanish cedar, mocha, gravel dust, lavender, red fruits, and a faint hint of green bell pepper, which only livens the olfactory senses in a good way. In the glass, its youthfulness is shown in a dark royal purple hue with a lavender hued rim, and very long legs due to its 15.5% ABV. Upon entry into the pallet is an explosion of flavor, coating the mouth with lush blackberry and ripe cherry notes, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, and a very gripping finish, leaving a mocha after taste. The wine had ample tannin structure, and good Oaky nuances that with its medium plus acidity all came together make a truly supurb wine. Great job Monsieur Melka! Can't wait to be in Napa in August and hopefully meet you! #melkawines
Cheers!
$74.99
I finally had the pleasure to try this new vintage release of CJ Melka Cabernet Sauvignon from the legendary Philipe Melka. It was yet another fantastic vintage, but from trying the past 3, it is easily going down as my favorite. This juice, as always, had a very enticing nose. It was rich, and full of notes of dried tobacco leaf, Spanish cedar, mocha, gravel dust, lavender, red fruits, and a faint hint of green bell pepper, which only livens the olfactory senses in a good way. In the glass, its youthfulness is shown in a dark royal purple hue with a lavender hued rim, and very long legs due to its 15.5% ABV. Upon entry into the pallet is an explosion of flavor, coating the mouth with lush blackberry and ripe cherry notes, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, and a very gripping finish, leaving a mocha after taste. The wine had ample tannin structure, and good Oaky nuances that with its medium plus acidity all came together make a truly supurb wine. Great job Monsieur Melka! Can't wait to be in Napa in August and hopefully meet you! #melkawines
Cheers!
$74.99
Lovely, rich yet balanced. Delicious
Lovely, rich yet balanced. Delicious
2 people found it helpfulMar 24th, 2016
Kinda has an old school side to it. Dense and deep in the glass. Soft and mellow on the nose. The soft, mellow nose meets the palate of this very approachable Melka wine-nice structure of blackberry lacquer, singed cedar, wild berries and spice. Loamy earth, grape skins give way to a supple finish.
Kinda has an old school side to it. Dense and deep in the glass. Soft and mellow on the nose. The soft, mellow nose meets the palate of this very approachable Melka wine-nice structure of blackberry lacquer, singed cedar, wild berries and spice. Loamy earth, grape skins give way to a supple finish.
1 person found it helpfulOct 3rd, 2016
Last night was the Confrerie St. Etienne Spring dinner. It was my first time attending. This is a chapter of the original group out of Alsace, France, and is the only chapter here in the US...just happens to be in my neck of the woods! Great introduction to Alsace wines.
This was the second wine that came with the third course, which was a beef tenderloin stuffed with lobster. Paired very nicely. I actually tried this wine for the first time about 5 days ago, but was the '14. I found this '13 to be a bit finicky in the glass for a while. It needed about an hour plus to really express the cocoa, espresso, blackberry filled nose. Finish of blueberries, Cedar, and very present tannins. Needs 3yrs or so to be pop and pour ready in my book.
Last night was the Confrerie St. Etienne Spring dinner. It was my first time attending. This is a chapter of the original group out of Alsace, France, and is the only chapter here in the US...just happens to be in my neck of the woods! Great introduction to Alsace wines.
This was the second wine that came with the third course, which was a beef tenderloin stuffed with lobster. Paired very nicely. I actually tried this wine for the first time about 5 days ago, but was the '14. I found this '13 to be a bit finicky in the glass for a while. It needed about an hour plus to really express the cocoa, espresso, blackberry filled nose. Finish of blueberries, Cedar, and very present tannins. Needs 3yrs or so to be pop and pour ready in my book.
Definitely accessible for a ‘13. Rich, with a plush texture, dark fruit and solid structure. Pretty balanced and tasty.
Definitely accessible for a ‘13. Rich, with a plush texture, dark fruit and solid structure. Pretty balanced and tasty.
May 12th, 2018
Dark fruits, medium acids, 11 years and still holds strong
Dark fruits, medium acids, 11 years and still holds strong
Feb 3rd, 2024
Deep purple. Green bell pepper and eucalyptus nose. Muddled blackberry, anise, and white pepper. All of that carries over beautifully to the palate. Dry, medium minus acid, medium plus alcohol, tannins are medium and supple. After some time, I am also getting rare meat on the nose. This is a top 10 of 2020 for me. MELKA is one of the best in my book.
95 points
Deep purple. Green bell pepper and eucalyptus nose. Muddled blackberry, anise, and white pepper. All of that carries over beautifully to the palate. Dry, medium minus acid, medium plus alcohol, tannins are medium and supple. After some time, I am also getting rare meat on the nose. This is a top 10 of 2020 for me. MELKA is one of the best in my book.
95 points
Almost black in color and opaque. Forest floor, black currant, cloves. Leather, spiced blackberry jam, dark chocolate on the finish. Complex, supple. This is going to be a knockout with a few years in the cellar. A lovely gift from a guest!
Almost black in color and opaque. Forest floor, black currant, cloves. Leather, spiced blackberry jam, dark chocolate on the finish. Complex, supple. This is going to be a knockout with a few years in the cellar. A lovely gift from a guest!
Mar 25th, 2019
Just okay. Got slightly better over time.
Just okay. Got slightly better over time.
Dec 28th, 2018