Melanson Vineyard
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
We hand-selected an ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard on Pritchard Hill owned by Greg Melanson as the designated vineyard for our Premiere Napa Valley offering. The viticultural area speaks for itself, as do the rich, intense, fruit-filled layers of this luscious Cabernet offering. This massive yet elegant Cabernet is bursting with black cherry, currant and blueberry notes, with layers of complexity and a supple finish. A treasure comprised of all the unique characteristics that make Pritchard Hill such an incredible viticultural phenomenon.
Aged in 100% new French Oak Barrels, primarily from the Allier and Troncais Forests.
bone dry | very sweet | |
light body | very full bodied | |
soft, gentle | very crisp | |
no tannins | heavy tannins | |
Winemaker, Fontanella Family Winery
Owner/winemaker Jeff Fontanella has been making wine in Napa Valley for 12 years. A graduate of the University of California, Davis, he holds a degree in Viticulture and Enology. Jeff began his winemaking career working in the cellars of Opus One and ZD.
Soon after, he took a position at one of Napa’s great cult wineries, Saddleback Cellars. At Saddleback, Jeff sharpened his winemaking skills under the tutelage of Nils Venge, whom Robert Parker named one of the 20 most influential winemakers in the world. During his tenure at Saddleback, Jeff was able to hone his stylistic approach to winemaking while reinforcing his technical training in the art.
For the last five years, Jeff has been a consulting winemaker for a number of small ultra-premium boutique wine brands, including Carter Cellars, Richard Partridge, Highlands and Melanson, to name a few.
Country born: United States
Education: B.S. - Enology and Viticulture from U.C. Davis
Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Complexity, balance and depth are our winemaking goals. The primary control built into this is soil type variation. Our theory is that the majority of the distinctive character of the wine is dependant on the soil type and microclimate where it is grown. As a winery, we can influence the wines final characteristics, put our style to it, so to speak, but it is impossible to change the inherent core structure of the wine. Winemaking starts in the vineyard.
Q: Premiere Napa Valley wines are innovative and allow each winery to showcase the region's sense of exploration in fine winemaking. What kind of exploration did your Premiere Napa Valley wine allow you to do?
A: We decided to venture out of our long-standing vineyards to create a unique wine from a Pritchard Hill vineyard owned by Greg Melanson. We've never produced a vineyard-designated wine from this exceptional vineyard and we are sure it will dazzle.
250 Ogle Street
Costa Mesa CA 92627-3808
949-650-8463
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZD Wines | Non-vintage | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Petit Abacus | 26 |
Freemark Abbey Napa Green Winery | 2019 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Tribute | 25 |
Gamble Family Vineyards Napa Green Winery | 2018 | Red Wine | Oakville | Paramount Proprietary Red Blend - Barrel Select | 24 |
Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 24 | |
Krupp Brothers | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | D7 | 24 |
Morlet Family Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Franc | Oakville | Le Fabuleux Franc | 20 |
PEJU | 2014 | Petit Verdot | Napa Valley | Persephone Vineyard Hebe Block | 20 |
Progeny Winery | 2014 | White Wine | Mount Veeder | 20 | |
Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | Clone Select | 19 |
V. Sattui Winery | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Two x Two—Morisoli Brothers Rutherford Dust-Up | 19 |
Beaulieu Vineyard | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Single Barrel Blend | 17 |
Robert Mondavi Winery | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | To Kalon Vineyard, Monastery Block | 17 |
Summers Estate Wines | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 17 | |
Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 16 | |
Newton Vineyard | 2010 | Red Wine | Spring Mountain District | The Puzzle | 16 |
Somerston Estate | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Gauntlet | 16 |
Whitehall Lane | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Deep Six | 16 |
Fontanella Family Winery | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Melanson Vineyard | 15 |
Regusci Winery | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Block 3, Clone 6 | 15 |
Grgich Hills Estate | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon | 14 |
Hewitt Vineyard | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Unique Hewitt Vineyard Blend | 14 |
Rocca Family Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | 14 | |
Rombauer Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Proprietors Reserve Stice Lane | 14 |
ZD Wines | Non-Vintage | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Petit Abacus | 14 |
Groth Vineyards and Winery | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Reserve Vineyard | 13 |
Larkmead Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Larkmead 125 | 13 |
Louis M. Martini Winery | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Premiere 254 | 13 |
Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 13 | |
Silver Oak Cellars | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak | 13 | |
Trinchero Napa Valley | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Mario's Reserve | 13 |
Beaulieu Vineyard | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Cabernet Clone Blend with Petit Verdot | 12 |
Beringer Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 12 | |
PEJU | 2006 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | ASV - Cabernet Sauvignon 50% -Cabernet Franc 50% | 12 |
Schrader Cellars, LLC | 2006 | Old Vine Zinfandel | Napa Valley | The Gnarly Cull | 12 |
The Terraces | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Quarry Cuvee | 12 |
Truchard Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Carneros | 12 |
Beringer Vineyards | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Ridge to Ridge | 11 |
Groth Vineyards and Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Preview | 11 |
Krupp Brothers | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 11 | |
Louis M. Martini Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 11 | |
Regusci Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Block 11 | 11 |
Robert Mondavi Winery | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Nostalgie | 11 |
Beaulieu Vineyard | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Clone 6 from BV#1 Vineyard | 10 |
Freemark Abbey | 2004 | Red Wine | Rutherford | Right Bank Cuvée | 10 |
Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Bella Oaks Lane | 10 |
Silver Oak Cellars | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Baron Duncan's Blend | 10 |
Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2004 | Malbec (78% Malbec, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot) | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | Empleon | 10 |
Revana Family Vineyard | 2003 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Rutherford Ranch Vineyards | 2002 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Schramsberg Vineyards | 1994 | Sparkling Wine | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Twomey Cellars | 2003 | Merlot | Napa Valley | 9 | |
Bouchaine Vineyards | 2003 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | 8 | |
Jessup Cellars | 2002 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 8 | |
Lang and Reed Wine Company | 2002 | Cabernet Franc | Calistoga | Madrigal Vineyards | 8 |
Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2002 | Red Table Wine | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | OKD 5 | 8 |
Grgich Hills Cellar | 2001 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | 7 | |
PEJU | 2001 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Rutherford - HB Vineyard | 7 |
Freemark Abbey | 2001 | Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot | Napa Valley | "FREEMARK" | 6 |
Lang and Reed Wine Company | 2000 | Cabernet Franc/Merlot | Napa Valley | Right Bank | 6 |
Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2000 | Red Table Wine | Napa Valley | Mènage á Trois | 6 |
Chimney Rock Winery | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Special Barrel Selection | 5 |
Jessup Cellars | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Lauer Vineyard | 5 |
Ristow Estate | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend | Napa Valley | Quinta de Pedras Vineyard | 5 |
Truchard | 1999 | Red Table Wine | Los Carneros | Truchard Estate | 5 |
PEJU | 1998 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | HB Vineyard | 4 |
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