David Walser

9.4

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. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

Phillipe Melka has now been sourcing from the ‘Paderewski Vineyard’ for several years. This wine is quite simply Paso Robles at its finest. Inky and deep once in the glass, this takes on chocolate cake tones alongside tar and black licorice with black olive tapenade tones rounding out this evocative nose. The palate is deep, intense and downright delicious. Not only quite massive, but the err of freshness with a light salinity imparted is really impressive. Deep dark currants and black cherry cordial mingle with coffee ground flavors on the palate. Utterly sensational in its youth, this has another fifteen years of life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2033- 96 — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

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.

Starting to channel some butterscotch and creme brûlée notes. It’s rich without being overly oaked. Honey roasted almonds and even some marzipan. This is 100% Ritchie vineyard and while it doesn’t have classic Ritchie nuttiness, there is a hint of roasted marshmallows that I find common in other Ritchie Chards. — 6 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.4

Ummmmmm, believable....

94 points — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

This wine is in a good spot right now. Don't think that any more bottle aging would do this one any better. The nose is volcanic, blackberry, medium to full bodied. The middle of this wine develops a little bit of plum and cocoa powder in the middle and some black pepper on the finish. More tannin than I thought it was going to have. Melka wine doing really well right now. — 7 years ago

with Dan

UGAWineDawg

9.1

11/20/17 - One fine Philippe Melka product - opened up nicely and exhibited Melka’s silky smoothness. Hints of dark fruits, ripe berries and a nice tannin touch that finished well. A true value play here. — 8 years ago

Eric

9.4

One of my very favorite blends. Melka produced. Great balance. — 8 years ago

Erik Wochna

9.2

10' vintage...killer wine, gonna make a Melka groupie out of me — 9 years ago

David Walser

9.3

This used to be my least favorite Melka but with age this bottle tasted great! — 4 years ago

Paul T HB

9.6

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, — 5 years ago

Daniel Taub

9.4

Kudos to Mr Melka. Delivers and after 30 mins in a very good place — 7 years ago

David L

9.4

06’ Melka Cab blend. Consume over the next 2/3 years. Blueberries, dark cherry, dipped chocolate, black licorice, banana skins (yes) . All front & middle palate. Just wish it had a bit more finish?!? Crowd pleaser without a doubt. — 7 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.8

Napa Gold!!!! Epic Chardonnay from Gandona.
Another piece of heaven crafted by Melka! — 7 years ago

with Kirk and Christine

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Second wine at Great Falls Wine Outlet this Friday and second Skipstone. Deep garnet red. A little savory on the nose with some earthiness, tobacco, animal nuances, plums, and spices. Medium tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. A bit bigger than the 2005 but not as integrated. Dark plums on the palate with some floral notes and crushed gravel. Long and lingering finish. Definitely has potential to improve. Drink till 2025. (92+)

Made up of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc. Made by Philippe Melka. Selling for $109.99 at The Great Falls Wine Outlet. — 8 years ago

with Sean and India

Mark Yurko

9.5

Amazing wine from Melka — 8 years ago

"Odedi"

9.4

It's definitely time for a great Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Great nose of black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, peppercorn, pencil lead and earth.

Full bodied with medium acidity and elegant.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, earth, peppercorn and leather.

Nice length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Merlot based blend from Napa Valley. Rich, yet elegant. Fruit forward with nice complexity.

This 8 year old Magnum is drinking very nicely now. The fact that it is from a great vintage doesn't hurt it either.

Delicious right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours of airtime.

Excellent quality. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Thank you Barry for sharing this with me.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with delicious lamb chops.

Grapes are grown at 2,100 feet of elevation. A blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak barrels (31% new) for 25 months. A small production of 579 cases. Made by Philippe Melka.

15.1% alcohol by volume.

94 points.

$350 (Magnum) — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

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.

This was in the zone. Classic ‘13 Napa cab. It’s flavor packed and loaded with structure. Sweet and ripe dark fruits up front with lots of juicy blackberries and blueberries wrapped in dark chocolate and baking spices on the nose. Nutmeg, cassis, baked mixed berry pie on the palate. It’s very compact with a dusty finish. A blend of different vineyards, with a lot of fruit coming from the backside of Howell Mtn. — 6 years ago

Joshua Fisher

9.3

Custom crush client at BRASSWOOD. Winemaker Philip Melka — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

The nose reveals; dark currants, blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries. Black tea, expresso roast, anise, crushed dry rocks, big vanilla, clove, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, woody notes with dark fresh & withering flower bouquet.

The body is big and lush. The tannins are big, meaty and tarry. Very dark currants. Blackberries, heavy black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries and some blueberries & strawberries as they open up. Black tea, expresso roast, steeped fruit tea, anise, crushed dry rocks, dry clay, big graphite, big vanilla, dark spice, clove, light dry herbs, a little nutmeg, dry underbrush, sweet tarry notes, leather, cedar with violets dark fresh & withering flower bouquet. The acidity is round, fresh and beautiful. The big, long, well balanced finish is excellent and look forward to having this in 15-20 years. This one will be a stunner!

Photos of, the barn where they make wine and hosts tastings, our private tasting area inside William’s old office. William desk and their outside terrace area.

Producer history & notes...Seavey Vineyard is located along Conn Valley Road in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, about 15 minutes from the valley floor.

This historical property was originally a cattle ranch. However, records indicate grapes were planted on some of the hillsides as early as the 1870’s. The stone dairy barn, still in existence, was built in 1881.

William & Mary Seavey purchased this property in 1979. The estate was originally founded by the Franco-Swiss Farming Company in 1881 which, closed down when Phylloxera destroyed their grape vines and the Volstead Act (Prohibition) went into effect. At the time of their purchase, they were a horse and cattle ranch. They quickly planted the slopes with grapes and initially sold their fruit to Raymond Vineyards. They have never purchased grapes, all their wine is made from estate grapes. Their vineyards are separated into 20 plus individual blocks.

Today, the property is about 200 total acres of which, 40 acres are planted to vine. Their hillside vineyards produce low yields of rich concentrated fruit. A small block of Chardonnay grows in a cooler lower part of their property. Besides grapes, they also raise cattle which are used to graze the hillsides. They feed the vineyard with the cattle cuttings. In 2003, they were one of the first Napa wineries to install solar.

Mary passed away in 2008 and William died in 2016. There daughter Dorie returned to the family business and now oversees the winery operations. Her brother Arthur also handles national and some small international sales, primarily to restaurants. However, most of their wine is sold direct to consumers.

Seavey’s first commercial vintage was released in 1990 a year after they renovated the stone dairy barn into a working winery. Today this stone building is the centerpiece of the property and is where tastings are hosted.

Since 2011, Jim Duane has been their day to day Winemaker. He’s worked at Robert Mondavi and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. It should also be noted that Philippe Melka Winemaker/Consultant has been with Seavey since 1995...one of Philippe’s two initial wine making jobs in the Napa Valley were with Seavey and Lail Vineyards.

Seavy makes about 3,200 cases annually depending on what mother nature brings. They make around two hundred cases of Chardonnay, slightly more Merlot and the rest is of the production is comprised of their Caravina and Estate Cabernets.
— 7 years ago

Paul T HB

9.6

Bottle # 2 is finished now, 4 left
Its better on the 2nd day, if you can hold off not drinking the entire bottle the first day.
Glass cork is cool, had a french one last year with same glass top, kinda of a pain to open but nice presentation when you take it to a party. — 8 years ago