Metisse Wine Tasting with Special Virtual Guest Philippe and Cherie Melka

"By making this wine vine known to the public, I have rendered my country as great a service as if I had enabled it to pay back the national debt."
~ Thomas Jefferson

What a great patriot and wine drinker!  We have been seeing a lot of cancellations in terms of winery personality visits as the new scare from Omicron faces the country, but the show must go on here at Wine Watch as we are still using our social distancing table arrangement and are keeping our seated events to only 16 tasters. 
One of the winemakers that had a scheduled trip to South Florida that cancelled is Philippe Melka and although he will not be here in person we will have him on a zoom call at 8pm this evening to talk about his Metisse wines.
The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $250 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

Philip Melka Wine Tasting with Special Virtual Guest Phillipe and Cherie Melka
Saturday, January 15, 2022
7:30 PM

2018 Melka Estates Padrewski Vineyard Majestique Paso Robles
Price: $87.00       Your Price: $76.56            Quantity in Stock: 12

Our third vintage for a classic Rhone style blend from the Paderewski Vineyard in Paso Robles. The aromatics of strawberry, raspberry and current tea, layer with violet flowers and creaminess - an amazingly expressive wine.  On the palate it is juicy, fresh and vibrant with tannins that demonstrate finesse and a slight spice.  The finish is long and lingering - begging you to pour another glass.
42% Grenache; 30% Syrah; 28% Mourvedre
18% Whole Cluster
Production: 190 cases
Bottling: April, 2020
Aging: 19 months in French oak

2016 Melka La Mekerra Vineyard Metisse Knights Valley
Price: $187.50    Your Price: $165.00          Quantity in Stock: 12

Both the Cabernet franc and Merlot were the first to be planted on this parcel of land in 2004.  Possessing a deep garnet color, the aromatics boast rich chocolate, dark red fruit and exotic spice coming from this cooler vintage.  The higher percentage of Merlot in this wine adds to its structure with beautiful Cabernet franc undertones.  This wine has a velvety texture, inky red fruit, raspberry jam, blood orange with good balance and nice tension.  Our proprietary red from Mekerra is sure not to disappoint.
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
100% Knights Valley
Production: 135 cases 750ml, 10 cases l.5L
Bottling: June, 2020
Aging: 19 months in French oak, 65% new
Release: September 21, 2021

(96 Points) "The 2018 possesses striking aromatic presence, tons of sensuality and impeccable balance.  It is simply dazzling from the very first taste."— Antonio Galloni. Vinous

2017 Melka Cabernet Sauvignon Martinez VIneyard Metisse Napa
Price: $252.00    Your Price: $221.76          Quantity in Stock: 6

Our fourth vintage from this vineyard located on Pritchard Hill at 1200 feet in elevation above Oakville.  We continue to learn what kind of wines we can craft with these three varieties from this particular site.  The aromatics of blackberry, tobacco, black pepper, crushed wet rock and dense earthiness leap from the glass.  The wine is extremely complex with fantastic vibrancy and energy alongside very savory elements reminiscent of hillside character.  The tannins are refined and their intensity increases on the palate.
67% Cabernet Sauvignon,  22% Cabernet Franc  And 11% Petit Verdot
100% Napa Valley
Production: 425 cases 750ml, 15 cases 1.5L
Bottling: June, 2020
Aging: 20 months in 75% new French oak barrels

"A classic hillside style from Pritchard Hill combining tension and finesse."
-Philippe & Cherie Melka, proprietors

"The 2018 Martinez is elegant and energetic in the mouth, with a chewy texture ad savory finish."
-Lisa Perotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

2018 Melka Estates CJ Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
Price: $109.50    Your Price: $96.36            Quantity in Stock: 11

This wine has had its following for many decades and is still a joy to produce.  The nose is very savory with tobacco notes, mountain herbs and a strong red fruit profile. The palate is very juicy and enjoyable with layers of fruit, acidity and well integrated soft tannins. Notes of dried plum, cranberry, and hint of vanilla are throughout the wine with beautiful red after notes.
The finish is fresh with excellent acidity, rounded tannins and just a hint of sweetness. This is a very food driven wine and beckons to accompany a juicy red protein.
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
100% Napa Valley
Production:  1500 cases
Bottling:  July, 2020
Aging: 22 months 40% new French oak
Release:  January 19, 2021
“A beautiful expression of Napa Valley Cabernet from vineyards that have continually produced great fruit for years.”  ~ Philippe and Cherie Melka, proprietors

2018 Melka Metisse Jumping Goat Red Napa
Price: $219.00    Your Price: $192.72          Quantity in Stock: 24

This 3.5 acre vineyard located in St. Helena is planted to all three varietals found in this delicious Bordeaux blend. This vintage produced a more polished and refined wine than the 2018, with layers of effortless, racy fruit that flow from this seamless, compelling wine.

Menu
Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie
Beet Salad with Goat Cheese Crema and Harpkie Farms Micro Greens
Beef Tartar ravioli with cola-soaked sundried tomato brown butter and fresh basil
Pancetta wrapped Pork Tenderloin served with Mole Sauce and black bean salsa
Dark Chocolate Crème Brulee

There are only 16 seats available for this tasting.  The fee for this event is $250 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

A BIT ABOUT METISSE WINERY
Métisse is a French word meaning “a blend of cultures”. Philippe Melka chose this name because it embodies both the spirit of our original concept (a blend of Bordeaux varietals - cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot) and their spirit as the winemakers a blend of French and American).  The first Métisse vintage was in 1996, it was the result of blending grape varietals and vineyard sources. A symbiotic relationship between Philippe and his clients led to an extraordinary blend of grapes from all over Napa Valley. Then in 2003, he decided to make single-vineyard Métisse wines.  It seemed a natural progression for Melka, and fit his philosophy about wines expressing their native soil.

Like the celebrated wines on which he’s built his reputation, Philippe Melka’s career has been influenced by soil.

A native of Bordeaux, Melka grew up intrigued by the intricacies of the land around him. When it came time for college, he acted on his childhood interests, earning a degree in Geology at the University of Bordeaux. A class in winemaking in his final year was a turning point, propelling him to earn a Master’s degree in Agronomy and Enology.

Melka has the rare combination of talent and fortune to be a winemaker who started at the top: his first job out of school was at Château Haut Brion. From there, he took a position with the reputable Moueix Company and was sent to Dominus Estate in Yountville to study soils in 1991. Napa Valley soil proved to be a revelation for Melka. He set out traveling, dividing time between soil study and winemaking at world renowned wineries Badio O Coltibuono in Chianti and Chittering Estate in Australia. He returned to France in 1993 to deepen his expertise at Chateau Petrus.

He has been fortunate to have been trained and influenced by some of the most notable personalities in the wine business such as Jean Delmas and Jean Philippe Masclef from Haut-Brion, Christian Moueix and Jean Claude Berrouet from Petrus, Paul Draper from Ridge, Daniel Baron from Silver Oak and the globetrotting wine consultant Michel Rolland with whom he continues to work with on consulting projects..

In 1994, he returned to Napa full time, and for the past 20 years, Melka has served as winemaking consultant for some of Napa’s most highly regarded properties under his company Atelier Melka founded in 1995. As co-proprietor of Melka Wines, Philippe and Cherie produce four distinct labels that reflect their philosophy of soil driven wines: Metisse from Napa Valley, Mekerra from Sonoma Valley, Majestique from around the world and CJ, also from Napa Valley.