Philippe Melka is a wine consultant for some of the big California Cult cabernets.  In 1996, he started his own wine project, using grapes he purchases from his clients and other commercial vineyards.

The 1996 Metisse wine is a blend of 40% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, and 30% cabernet franc.  Color in the wine was good, but the bouquet was a little muted for a wine with so much cab franc in the blend.  The wine drinks like a well aged Bordeaux, but without the glorious bouquet.  A soft lilac and black fruit nose mixed with toasty oak, a genorous presentation on the palate, and a soft finish.  I enjoyed the wine, but would have liked a little more oomph.  I think the wine was probably a year or two past it's prime.  It may or may not have been stored optimally.  More recent vintages of this wine have used much higher percentages of cabernet sauvignon, and this should make the wine stand up straighter.

3.5 stars

 

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