2016 Melka Mekerra Merlot Knights Valley 750 ml

One grape. One vineyard. 100-point winemaking savant Philippe Melka lends his Midas touch to that rigorous formula with spectacular results in the lush, densely textured 2016 Melka Mekerra Merlot.

A new cuvée from California’s master of Bordeaux varieties (he’s an alum of Haut-Brion and Petrus), this bottling was born of Melka’s fascination with the Merlot cultivated on his high-elevation Knights Valley vineyard, La Mekerra. “It’s just an absolutely classic expression of the grape—fantastic varietal typicity,” he told us.

We believe it’s one of his finest releases yet: a flashpoint between Melka’s elegant Old World origins and the power-forward New World mentality he’s become famous for. Masculine spice and wild berry aromas define the arresting nose, with a ruby hue in the glass. Intense dark fruit plumps up the mouth-filling, concentrated mid-palate, framed by stern tannins that resolve into a silky, length finish.

In a glowing review, Jeb Dunnuck calls it a “ripe, sexy Merlot” with “a layered, rich texture.” Vinous’ Antonio Galloni raved over Melka’s 2016 releases in general—“a superb set of wines” that “draw on a collection of top-notch vineyards”—but reserved special praise for this recently debuted Merlot cuvée. “The 2016 has a lot to offer,” he advised, calling this specific release out in his vintage notes as “well worth taking a look at.”

Only 150 cases were made. Wine Access wine club members have exclusive access to this bottle. For a new Melka release with this kind of scarcity, outstanding craftsmanship, and mounting critical acclaim, it’s a good time to be at the front of the line.

We remember visiting the La Mekerra site with Melka a year or two back. Located in one of the more rugged, remote corners left in Sonoma, it seemed an unlikely place to find this soft-spoken Frenchman with perfect manners and an aristocratic résumé. He’s a consultant for some of the most celebrated estates in California, with bottles listed on menus at Per Se and French Laundry.

Yet here he was on the brush-lined side of Ida Clayton Road, silent save for the chirping of crickets and the metallic cry of a blue jay. The craggy shape of Mount Saint Helena loomed in the distance. “Unlike the rest of Sonoma, this place has actually gotten more wild with time,” he told us as we tramped along a narrow trail out the ten-acre site. There are no restaurants, hotels or commercial developments in the Knights Valley AVA—just farms and vineyards. “That almost animal energy really comes across the glass.”

Melka bought the vineyard in 2001, settling on the site after sensing its potential to clearly translate terroir into the glass. Reaching elevations up to 2,500 feet, the land sits in a bowl shape with steep slopes, primarily of western and southern exposures, creating microclimates that guided the placement of vines. The Merlot, with roots plunged deep into rich, volcanic soils, responds to the extreme climate—hotter than Napa by day, colder by night—by balancing ripe power with freshness. 

The result is a bottling that’s riper and more powerful than a typical Right Bank expression, that still boasts excellent length and complexity. We’re thrilled to be able to offer our members first shot at a Melka Merlot that sets a new standard in Sonoma.