2019 Adversity Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard

IVR100 The 2019 Melanson Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Adversity Cellars is simply magnificent. It immediately starts off by displaying an impressive dark inky color, which is followed by seductive aromas of blueberry compote and ripe dark berries that are accompanied by fresh violets, dark chocolate, exotic spices, fresh sage, graphite and hints of loam that all take shape and burst from the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied, layered and impeccably polished, with outstanding overall depth and concentration. It goes on to impress with its rich, seamless texture that resonates all the way through the lavish finish. This is a magical wine from Russell Bevan that perfectly walks the fine line of power and finesse. It is nothing short of stunning and should go on to age beautifully, but it’s also so delicious right now! (International Vine Report)
JD96+ Coming from a vineyard on Pritchard Hill, just across from Colgan, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Melanson Vineyard is a bigger, dense, powerful wine that stays incredibly elegant and seamless. Blue fruits, crushed stone, sagebrush, and gravelly earth are just some of its nuances, and it’s full-bodied and uber-concentrated, with building tannins and wonderful length. It’s another sensational wine in the lineup that will benefit from short-term cellaring yet evolve for two decades.
Winemaker Notes: The Melanson Vineyard sits on the top of Pritchard Hill and exemplifies all of the things that make the wines from the area so spectacular. It starts with a flavor profile that is driven by blueberries and pomegranate. These two incredibly singular flavors just pulse from the glass. We intentionally selected barrels that would produce a hint of vanilla bean to the wine. The result is this fabulous combination of berries and cream. Like many of my favorite wines from this area, the textures here build on the back of your pallet and continue to be pulled to the front. The wine’s natural acidity eventually takes over and begs you to take a bite of a chard medium rare steak.
About the Vineyard: Situated at the tip top of Prichard Hill, the Melanson vineyard is the elegant lady in our portfolio. You would expect wines from the top of a mountain to be masculine, but this vineyard produces wines that showcase blueberries and huckleberry flavors like none other.
The combination of dappled light and a large diurnal temperature swing, creates the perfect environment for long, slow ripening which gives this wine its incredibly polished textures and refinement.

Adversity Cellars is a project from Russell and Heidi Bevan that is designed to showcase sites that have unique flavor and textural profiles from vineyards whose location forces the vines to struggle for their existence; forcing them to deal with great Adversity.

Russell Bevan’s passion for wine dates back to his days in highschool. Everything he has done in life up to this point in time has pushed him to become the winemaker he is today.  To date, he has crafted double digit hundred point wines but is excited to embrace the challenge of crafting wines from these dynamic sites that force the vines to deal with so much Adversity. 

Heidi spent the last 8 years flying and running an aviation company, enjoying the challenges this type of career presented to her.  Since meeting Russell and getting married, Heidi has moved in to the wine world helping with tastings and working at the winery side by side crafting the wines with her husband Russell.