2016 Melka Sauvignon Blanc Mekerra

Community Tasting Notes (10) Avg Score: 94.0 points

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  7/30/2023 - Shay.Aldriedge Likes this wine: 94 Points

  This was served during my annual WWC hosting. Typical format of sparkler, three whites, four reds, one dessert, all served blind.
  
  Decanted an hour. Acquired during a visit to Melka a few years back. Last bottle of a 3-pack, and poured next to a 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc. 100%SB and 100% barrel fermented. This was the SB that opened my eyes to how good SB could be 5-6yrs ago. The tropical aromatics (pineapple, lots of guava, white peach) alongside such a rich yet balanced palate (glycerin like, oak only noticeable in texture, not taste). Lemon cream with a puckering finish.
  
  As an aside, I know these “super SauvBlancs” have become popular. Melka must be at the forefront thanks to involvement in V29, DANA, Lail, Melka, ADAMVS, and countless others from the Atelier Melka team.

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  7/3/2022 - ajrez Likes this wine: 93 Points

  if you got em, drink em. Drinking well now but lifetime is limited here. Losing freshness and energy, maybe 12-18 months

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  4/30/2021 - csimm wrote: 96 Points

  3 days in Napa: Arkenstone, Memento Mori, Maxem, The French Laundry, Christopher Tynan, Kinsman, Harlan, Vice Versa, Accendo, Fairchild, Macdonald, and a truckload of others (Napa): At the French Laundry. An invigorating and lively example of Sauvignon Blanc. I have enjoyed this wine on a number of previous occasions and each time it delivers a complex and captivating array of kiwi, guava, Squirt, and fresh cut grass flavors. I love this wine… though I gotta say, the lingering bedroom eyes on the label make for a peculiar encounter. I typically don’t like my wine bottles watching me drink them.
  
  This paired fantastically with a number of the fish and shellfish dishes in the initial courses of the meal. I could’ve had this wine with each one of the 20+ dishes. This was at its best during the Big Island Abalone “Rockefeller” and Marinated Watsonville Artichokes dishes.

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  2/17/2021 - csimm wrote:

  Solid showing, especially for the first hour or so of consumption. There was a bit of heat to blow off on the initial pull, but it settled nicely into its groove with a gorgeous display of kiwi, guava, lime and lemon juice, honeydew, and grass flavors. Similar in quality to Aesthete and Arrow & Branch Heritage Sauvignon Blancs.
  
  After a couple hours of air, the Melka started to flatten out a bit on the finish and lose some energy, potentially indicative of a narrowing drinking window. Nothing to panic about, but I'd be drinking these inside the next year or so (assuming you prefer your SBs to maintain the speed and freshness that makes the varietal so enticing).

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  2/8/2021 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points

  This round and pure 100% Sauvignon Blanc is not as impressive as the 2017, but it a solid wine that ably balances the creamy and grassy elements of the varietal. Light yellow, almost clear in color; full in body; nose of wet grass, gooseberry, and Flavors of orange zest, lemon peel, and cantaloupe, with a lively and grassy finish. 14.5% alcohol. Decant about an hour. Drink in next year or so.

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