Pulido-Walker 'Melanson Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

In August 2017, we visited Daniel Ha at Pulido-Walker’s vineyard on Mount Veeder. It is a spectacular property with vineyards that are maturing each year with the intent to make an Estate Cabernet Sauvignon in the coming years. In the meantime, their winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, continues to source from both Panek Vineyard in St. Helena and Melanson Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, a 10-acre vineyard site that is now considered one of the best sources for Pritchard Hill Cabernet. “In 2010, we fell in love with the Clone 7 that is so consistently produced in the Melanson Vineyard. On its own, the flavor is predominantly savory and, we’ve learned, that blending the brighter, red-fruit character of Clone 337 makes just the right complement to Clone 7’s dense, blacker nature. Add in the crushed rock qualities of the hillside site, and the 2014 Pulido~Walker Melanson Vineyard is a modern Napa Valley classic, with good fruit character, detectable acidity, and a clear and compelling Pritchard Hill signature.” – Thomas Rivers-Brown, winemaker.