Nice day in Napa - Ceja, Pine Ridge and Merryvale Wineries

A great day of wine tasting with wonderful wineries. Ceja in Carneros is a wonderful story of Mexican-Americans who started out as field workers, then vineyard owners, then winemakers, Amelia Ceja is one of the few female CEO's in Napa and is a ball of energy. Pine Ridge is doing great things with Reds from all over the valley with a wonderful collection of AVA wines and Merryvale's premium wines do not get the credit they deserve in the wine publications - they use great fruit from some of the best vineyards that Beckstoffer has to offer and the results are amazing. Enjoy.

These are small production wines which focus on delivering great fruit with relatively low alcohol levels. Great people and great wine.

• 2005 Ceja Vino de Casa 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Tasted at winery. Nice white blend with aromas of citus and tropical fruit. Very crisp and refreshing with a citrus finish. Nice low alcohol of 12.8% makes this a great picnic wine.

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• 2005 Ceja Sauvignon Blanc 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Tasted at winery. Excellent Sauvignon Blanc. Aromas of guava and green apple. Huge fruit that unwinds in layers delivering flavors of line, grapefruit, and lemon that are bright, tangy and bold. Long lasting finish with nice amount of crispness and acidity. Only 340 cases made.

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• 2004 Ceja Chardonnay 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Tasted at winery. Literally, first people to taste this wine outside of staff. Will be released in June. Very aromatic with notes of creme brulee and a sophisticated mineral nose. Flavors of citrus, tropical fruit and hint of minerals. No malolatic fermentation allows the wines fruit to deliver a wonderfully balanced chard that is buttery. Same vineyard where Rombauer gets their Carneros Chard but they use malo and it is a butter bomb. This wine is much better suited to food than 99% of other Chards. Delightful wine.

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• 2003 Ceja Vino de Casa Napa Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery. Delightful red blend featuring 52% Pinot and 48% Syrah. Big nose of plum, cherry, tea, spice and a touch of earth. In the mouth supple layers of red and black fruits are complimented by pepper, smoke. Very noticable acidity and a very profound mouthfeel. Alot going on in the mouth but still very balanced.

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• 2002 Ceja Pinot Noir 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Tasted at winery. Aromas of tea and cherry on the nose. Black cherry, tea and earth in the mouth. Well balanced effort from Carneros fruit.

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• 2002 Ceja Merlot 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Tasted at winery. Aromas of black cherry and currant dominate the nose. Silky, lush tannins provide the backdrop of the red and black fruits that dance in the mouth. Well balanced and plain delcious.

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• 2003 Ceja Syrah 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

  Tasted at winery. Very well made Syrah with fruit from Sonoma Coast. Aromas/flavors of blueberry, cherry, pepper and smoke. Very rich wine with long, lingering finish. Sadly, only 375 cases made.

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• 2002 Ceja Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery. Interesting Cab which delivers aromas of red fruits, leather, licorice and dark chocolate. Definite flavors of oak, earth, blackberry and cherry. Nice rich mouthfeel. Flavors are very well balanced with acidity and supple tannins. A mere 300 cases made with fruit from Silverado vineyards. Nice to see a Cab at 13.7% alcohol and still deliver tons of fruit.

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Delivering great red wines from their vineyards throughout the valley. They are producing high quality wines at fair prices, their neigbors are charging alot more.

• 2004 Pine Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay Dijon Clones 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Tasted at winery. Beatuiful nose of citrus, butterscotch, and smoke. Complex and sweet mouth with citrus, spice and smoke on the finish. Good acidity.

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• 2003 Pine Ridge Vineyards Merlot Crimson Creek 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery. Very good merlot. Lots of berry and currant nose and mouth. Good depth and complexity. Moderate tannins blend well into pleasing, long finish.

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• 2003 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Tasted at Winery. Well made example of the quality of fruit from Rutherford AVA. Chocolate and vanilla notes on the nose. Red and black fruits in the mouth, held together by well integrated tannins, then finishing with Rutherford "dust" in the form of cocoa. Long, lingering finish for the price.

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• 2003 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Tasted at winery. Great example of Oakville AVA. Lush, oppulent wine. Aromas of cherry, chocolate, vanilla and toasted oak. Layered flavors unwind in the mouth with cherry, boysenberry, chocolate, vanilla and sweet oak. Elegant and supple wine with velvety tannins. Long 35-40 second finish.

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• 2003 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Tasted at winery. Lush, elegant wine. Aromas of black cherry, blackberry, cocoa powder, vanilla and cedar. Silky tannins balance ripe fruit flavors of blueberry, blackberry, black cherry with hints of cedar, smoke and tobbacco. Long, lingering finish.

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• 2003 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Tasted at winery. Big mountain cab. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, cedar, tobacco and hint of violet. Deep, concentrated fruit with flavors of black and blue fruits with toasted oak and spice. Velvety tannins. 45+ second finish.

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• 2001 Pine Ridge Vineyards Andrus Reserve 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at Winery. Wonderfully complex wine. Aromas of berry, toffee, vanilla and cocoa powder. Toasty oak, cherry, blackberry, vanilla and mocha flavors are wrapped in silky, lush tannins. Long, elegant finish of 40+ seconds delivers flavors of cocoa and brown sugar. Very deep and complex wine.

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Their high end wines are phenomenal. Fruit from vineyards like Hyde, Georges III, To-Kalon. 100% French Oak. These guys really treat their wine club members well. A 5 year Profile (bordeaux blend) tasting was great.

• 2003 Merryvale Chardonnay Silhouette 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at Winery. Wonderfully rich and complex chardonnay. Elegant mouthfeel. Aromas of white fruit, butter and a touch of honeysuckle flowers. Pear, butterscotch, lychee fruit in the mouth. Long, creamy finish that delivers hint of marshmellow at the very end.

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• 2003 Merryvale Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Tasted at Winery. Complex chardonnay from Hyde vineyard. Aromas and flavors of pear, apple, hazelnut and citrus. Nice backbone of citic acid holds wine together and finishes with nice touch of minerality. Good food Chard.

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• 2003 Merryvale Merlot Beckstoffer Las Amigas 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Tasted at Winery. Big merlot. Very ripe and dark fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberry and currant. Big tannins for a merlot, make this a fine cab drinkers merlot. Nice, lingering finish.

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• 1998 Merryvale Profile 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery as part of 98-02 vertical. Very elegant bordeaux blend. Aromas and flavors of plum, cassis, tobacco, leather, anise, oak and chocolate. Lush, supple tannins provide the long, elegant finish for a great wine from a weak vintage.

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• 1999 Merryvale Profile 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery as part of 98-02 vertical. Lush and opplulent wine with exceptional balance. Complex, interesting aromas/flavors of mocha, currant, mint, cassis, blackberry, earth and oak. Elegant tannin structure with a beautiful, long finish. A great bottle of wine.

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• 2000 Merryvale Profile 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery as part of 98-02 vertical. Excellent bordeaux blend. Very ripe nose of blackberry, cassis, minth and earth. Additional flavors of plum, cedar and chocolate in the mouth. Elegant tannin provide excellent balance in this deep and complex wine. Great wine from weak vintage.

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• 2001 Merryvale Profile 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery as part of 98-02 vertical. Outstanding wine. Complex, blanced, dark and rich. Flavors/aromas of oak, ripe berry, plum, mint and spice with a touch of chocolate on the long (45 second) lingering finish. Great fruit from Beckstoffer's ToKalon, Georges III and Las Amigas vineyards provides the basis for this excellent wine.

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• 2002 Merryvale Profile 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery as part of 98-02 vertical. Complex wine with tremendous structure, very well balanced. Flavors/aromas of currant, black cherry, blackberry, and plum with hints of oak, chocolate and dust on the long, lingering finish. Tannins still a bit chewy, indicating that this wine will last for many, many years.

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• 2003 Merryvale Profile 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Tasted at winery - barrel tasting. Complex and rich wine. Well layered flavors/aromas of oak, blueberry, blackberry, dark chocolate, vanilla and coffee. Big wine with huge tannins now but still has fruit and acidity to reveal the balance that this wine will develop with barrel and bottle aging.

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• 2000 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 Beckstoffer 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Tasted at winery. Exceptional wine with great fruit from Beckstoffer Georges III from the heart of Rutherford. Intensely ripe fruit with lush, velvety tannins. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum, cassis, cedar, sweet oak, earth and spice. Very long finish that provides the signature Rutherford Dust. This is a great wine that clearly is one of the best 2000 vintage wine that I have tasted.

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