2005 Ceja Carneros Merlot

Ceja Vineyards of Napa Valley was officially founded in 1999 by brothers Pedro and Armando Ceja and their wives, and the winery now owns 113 acres of vineyards in the Napa Valley. For nearly 15 years before starting the winery the brothers and their wives grew grapes for other winemakers on acreage they had purchased as young married couples by combining their financial resources. As the sons of a Mexican couple who immigrated to the United States in the late ‘60s to work in the Napa vineyards, the Ceja brothers have an unusually close attachment to the land. Today Armando is the winemaker and the brothers’ extended families run the winery, based in Carneros. Though the winery makes many red and white wines, it is particularly noted for its Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Carneros AVA, also known as Los Carneros, is at the southern end of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys at the top of the San Francisco Bay. The 8,000 vineyard acres are mostly planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, both of which thrive in the district’s cool, marine climate. Carneros became an AVA in 1983 and it has attracted foreign wine companies along with local producers. It has been especially appealing to European producers of sparkling wines including the giant Spanish cava producers Codorniu and Frexinet, and the French Champagne house Taittinger. Codorniu in Carneros is called Artesa, and Frexinet’s Carneros brand is Gloria Ferrer. Taittinger calls its Carneros winery Domaine Carneros. The European producers also make still wines in Carneros. ?

The Merlot grape is such a deep blue that it is named for the blackbird. It’s an early ripening grape and one of the primary varietals used In Bordeaux. Merlot is also grown in the "International style," which is harvested later to bring out more tannins and body.