Founded in 1996 by Philippe Melka, a Bordeaux-born, formally trained geologist who apprenticed at Chateau Haut-Brion and Christian Moueix's Dominus before becoming one of Napa's most in-demand consulting winemakers, and his wife Cherie, a microbiologist. Their four labels, CJ, Metisse, Mekerra, and Majestique, take their names from family and geography, including a river near Philippe's hometown; Melka earned his first 100-point score in 2009 for a Dana Estates Lotus Vineyard Cabernet.