Nobody in the Napa Valley has a better sense of what it takes
to make First-Growth quality wines than Philippe Melka.
Even his first internship in 1990 at Château Haut-Brion was an introduction to the scientific precision that Bordeaux’s greatest properties bring to bear. He was tasked with determining the optimal time for green harvesting—is it at 10% veraison, 50%, or 90%? The blocks he worked on were isolated and their resulting wines evaluated to determine the right answer. Philippe was also in awe of the sophistication of Haut-Brion’s clonal selection, not to mention the experimentation and data-driven approach he witnessed at La Mission Haut-Brion.
During his time at Ridge Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Melka worked alongside the legendary Paul Draper, who is renowned for constantly experimenting and challenging himself with every new vintage. Stints at Pétrus and Dominus Estate further crystallized Melka’s terroir-driven, clean, precise style.
Melka and Nick Allen have some exciting changes in the wings in 2025 for Carte Blanche. They’ll experiment with new varietal assemblages, new valley-floor fruit sources, and a style shift that emphasizes the flair and aromatic intensity that the First Growths are so famous for—but in a uniquely Napa Valley way.
Ever since we signed our first vineyard lease for Beckstoffer Missouri-Hopper in 2008, Carte Blanche has made a point of locking in “A+” vineyard sources. We want to know these terroirs intimately, and watch how they develop, not just for years—but over decades of harvests.
We’ve purchased Merlot from Oak Knoll’s Beckstoffer Orchard Avenue Vineyard since 2008, and it’s been our secret weapon in our Proprietary Red and The Mark Napa Valley Red ever since. We’ve purchased fruit from UV Vineyard and Sun Chase Vineyard since 2014. Part of the joy of wine appreciation is being able to compare terroirs and watch how different vintages develop in the bottle, and this pursuit is one of the core values of Carte Blanche.
“For me, life comes down to what’s most important: being a dedicated father, family member, and friend. I believe in being with my family as much as possible, providing for them, and making my own mark,” says Nick. “It’s a privilege to do what I love and to love what I do. Producing fine wine is a dream come true; and I do not take it for granted.”
Nick Allen produces wine for people to enjoy when they celebrate life with those they love. Carte Blanche wines are made in this spirit, paying homage to the Dillon family heritage with the utmost humility and respect. In light of this, don’t think of it as a “privilege” to get an allocation of our wines—we think it’s a greater honor for our wines to be included in your collection, and shared at your table with loved ones.
When you come to visit us in St. Helena, we will receive you in this spirit.
