2016 Melka Metisse Martinez Vineyard

This is a new wine from an 18-acre vineyard up on Pritchard Hill, owned by the Martinez family. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Petit Verdot and 17% Cabernet Franc aged for 20 months in 80% new 225-liter French oak barrels, the 2016 Metisse Martinez is very deep garnet-black in color and comes charging out of the glass with crème de cassis, plum preserves and fruitcake notes with nuances of balsamic, fragrant earth, mincemeat pie and Indian spices plus a waft of sautéed herbs. The palate is very big, rich, full, opulent and bursting with spicy black fruit preserves flavor layers, with a firm yet velvety frame and just enough freshness to lift the long finish. To be released in the spring of 2019.