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In Decanter’s July 2025 feature, “The Age of Cellar-Worthy California Sauvignon Blanc”, wine writer Jonathan Cristaldi highlights Melka Estates as a leader in crafting elegant, ageworthy whites.
The 2016 vintage of La Mekerra Vineyard Proprietary White earned an impressive 96 points, praised for its:
“Fresh grapefruit and white flowers lead, with a chamomile richness and creamy apple building the palate from medium- to full-bodied. There’s superb, focused tension—linear, with charming acidity that carries a delicate, lacy quality.”
The 2013 vintage also impressed with 95 points, noted as:
“Absolutely riveting… dried Mediterranean herbs, exotic fruits, chamomile, and layered spices. It delivers tremendous length, warmth, and intensity.”
Philippe Melka reflects on his vision:
“I love Haut-Brion Blanc and wanted to see if I could make it here in California.”
This recognition underscores Melka Estates’ commitment to pushing the boundaries of California white winemaking, crafting Sauvignon Blancs that are as structured and complex as the world’s greatest whites.
The Mekerra from Melka Wines in Napa Valley run by husband and wife team, Philippe and Cherie Melka. Having spent considerable time in France, they took their expertise back to California and now focus on a small portfolio of high-quality wine. Completely barrel-fermented, the Mekerra has been lauded for its fresh flavors of both green and yellow orchard fruit and has an aggregated score of 93 points, and comes in at an almost affordable $144 USD.
The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc Mekerra Vineyard is round, voluptuous and inviting. A white of texture and pure nuance, the 2013 offers a compelling mélange of peach, apricot, white flowers, French oak and slightly tropical flavors. Oily and unctuous in style, the 2013 is a wine of real personality and class.
Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: October 2015
One might raise their eyebrows at the price of Melka's Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s one of the great Sauvignons being produced in the modern world. I don’t know how he quite pulled off such an amazing 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Mekera Vineyard, but it comes from a high elevation, hillside parcel in Knights Valley, which I think is where Peter Michael produces their Sauvignon. It’s a blend of 96% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Muscadelle. Why is it so magnificent? It shows incredibly sweet, ripe, exotic mango, caramelized grapefruit, melons and a hint of pineapple. With terrific texture, yet light on its feet, this is made from the same clone of Sauvignon which Vineyard 29 utilizes. It spent 20 months in 100% new French oak, and yet the oak is pushed way to the background of this gorgeous wine that should drink well for 4-5 years.
Mekerra Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Melka Wines
Knights Valley, Calif.
For the wine that bears his own name, Philippe Melka grows the grapes on a 10-acre vineyard situated 2,300 feet above Napa Valley. High elevations tend to smooth out tannins, an effect evident in this wine: flowery and rich with a hint of citrus floating around the flavor levels.
Melka, a Frenchman with a geology degree from the University of Bordeaux, took his first winemaking class out of sheer curiosity. He is big into soil - his vineyard's dirt is rich in clay and volcanic ash - and terroir (the act of creating wine redolent of the place where the grapes have been grown). Both interests show well in this wine. Taking in the bouquet, before the Mekerra even hits my palate, I'm thinking about warm afternoons in lush fields. It's the kind of transporting quality that is virtually impossible not to find alluring. $145
Pairing tip: Lobster and crab complement this wine.