Napa Valley

Tasting Notes

Matthew’s Block celebrates the 2nd generation of our family farming on Pritchard Hill.  The vineyard was a childhood playground for Matt who has gone on to study viticulture and has worked in all aspects of our business.

The wine’s dark cherry, currant, cassis and sweet oak tones carry forom the nose through into the palate.  The intense fruit is framed by a very sturdy and age worthy tannin structure, a reflection of our rugged vineyard site. Winemaker Jeff Fontanella extended barrel aging to 30 months to add a touch of creaminess to the length and finish of this beautiful wine.

About Melanson Vineyards

We started growing grapes in the Napa Valley when we purchased a Calistoga vineyard in 1978 as a weekend getaway and base for glider flying.  As the Napa Valley evolved into a heralded wine growing region, our passion for wine and farming developed along with it. Our first wine, a Sauvignon Blanc, was bottled under the Melanson Vineyard label in 1985. We then set our sights on growing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon selling the Calistoga vineyard to purchase a 42 acre on Pritchard Hill in 1988.

The property’s 10.5 acre vineyard was planted to Riesling in the 1960s then grafted to a Wente Clone Chardonnay.  We removed 7.5 acres in 1999 to plant Cabernet Sauvignon knowing that the varietal was beautifully suited to our steep rocky slopes.  We don’t regret our move to the hills and relish having father and son working side-by-side in the business, cultivating the slopes that were once a childhood playground.