Santa Cruz Mountains Wine for The Colder Months

Mount Eden Chardonnay has one of the longest bottling lineages in California.  This full-bodied California Chardonnay wine is perfect for the fall and winter months.  Vintages such as this Mount Eden Chardonnay 2006 also make for a wonderful gift that can easily be enjoyed years later – something to keep in mind as we make our holiday season rounds to see friends and family. 

Rich History of Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay

Before delving into the more subtle details of this Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay, let’s take a moment to appreciate the rich history of Mount Eden vineyards. Since the founding of Mount Eden vineyards in 1945, they have embraced the idea of allotting small areas of land for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Mount Eden Vineyards is known as one of the first “boutique” wine estates in California.  The production yields significantly less cases than vineyards that make California Chardonnay wine, however it is at wineries such as this that you can often find top-notch wine production in the making.

Mount Eden Chardonnay Wine Review:  Hold On for the Zest!

And now on to the 2006 Mount Eden Chardonnay wine itself.  After allowing a few minutes to breath, the bouquet proved to be quite an interesting experience.  Upon first taste, there were hints of apricot in this California Chardonnay wine and then all of a sudden, an interesting spurt of cardamom!  There was definitely a certain sweetness, not overly fruity, more of a lemon essence.  The full-bodied flavor and lemon zest lingers for a few moments, leaving a refreshing sensation in your mouth.  If you enjoy Thai food, Mount Eden Chardonnay 2006 may be the perfect accompaniment.

In order to evolve these interesting flavors, the Mount Eden Chardonnay grapes are pressed and then allowed to remain in French Burgundy barrels before being aged for 10 months.  Prior to bottling, the wine is filtered and then placed in the cellar for two years.  Sometimes knowing the intricate history behind the bottle of wine that you are about to enjoy makes the experience that much more gratifying.  Especially in the case of Mount Eden Chardonnay 2006, whose long history compared to other California Chardonnay wines makes it a noteworthy selection as a gift or on a cold winter’s night.

5 Telltale Signs of Bad Wine

Drawing the line between a bad wine versus a good wine with a distinct taste and smell, shall we say, comes easier with time.  One kind of bad wine is called the corked wine, which has certain telltale factors.  There are certain wines however, such as Madeira that is made in open outdoor vats that encourage oxidation and affects the taste of this wine.  In general, there are certain signs that indicate a bad wine…

1.     Protruding Cork

If you’ve ever noticed that the cork extends beyond the tip of the bottle, this is a pretty good sign of a bad wine bottle.  This may be the result of heat exposure, which causes the wine to expand.  You could also try to turning the wrapping to see if it may be stuck by residue.

2.     Corked Wine with a Musty Taste & Aroma

Sometimes during the aging process, a cork will become a microorganism meal.  The result is that the wine, which comes into contact with the cork becomes contaminated with a chemical known as TCA; this is the corked wine definition.  This type of bad wine tends to subdue a wine’s flavors, making it bland and sometimes bitter or when it’s more obvious, there will be a distinct moldy smell.  Wine that has pieces of cork in it is not considered corked wine.

3.     Oxidized Wine with an Off-Taste & Color

Some tastes that are associated with bad wine included, as mentioned above, moldy wet cardboard and smelly socks.  Other tastes that may indicate a wine going bad are vinegar or a strong raisin smell.  Also if a wine is fruitless or is reminiscent of paint thinner, this may also indicate a bad wine.

Looking at a wine’s color requires a more acute sense of a wine’s quality, however in general a brown tint in red wine and a deep yellow or brownish color in white way may indicate a bad wine.

4.     Fizziness in a Still Wine

When yeasts that have lied dormant decide to wake up, the result is a second fermentation that occurs and causes a bad wine to form.  This effervescence may be difficult to detect on the tongue, so incorporate all your senses and see if you perhaps notice bubbles.

5.     Sedimention – Not a True Fault

Sedimentation is not generally seen as a true fault.  Sedimentation in the form of little white tartrate crystals that accumulate at the bottom of a wine bottle or on the cork often occur in older wines and ports.  They are a natural side-effect that occurs in unfiltered wines, but do not constitute a bad wine.  But do decant such wines, since drinking this sediment is not a pleasant experience.

Steps to Avoid Corked Wine

Storing in a dark room around 60 degrees is a general suggestion to prevent a good wine from turning into a bad wine. Even , when shipped during the summer months, our very good wines have a greater danger of their tastes becoming compromised due to heat.   In fact, if you look at our  Wine on the Way shipping information; when it is really hot out, we will hold off shipping for the good of the wine.  Shipping, while possible, during those times, is at the customer’s discretion.

It’s also important to rotate your wine bottle every few months to prevent sediment build-up from occurring.  Some vintage wines, if aged for too long, will turn into bad wine. Many of our wines will clearly state how long the bottle’s scan be cellared for that reason.    If you have questions about shelf life or proper storage of your wines, feel free to drop us a line.  

Today, winemaking has improved a great deal to maintain consistency, though certain wines may not appeal to one’s palette.  Unfortunately, there might come a time when you may come across a bottle of corked wine. If you happen to come across such a situation, please just give us a call or email and Wine on the Way can send you another bottle of the same wine.

Wine & Cheese Gifts Baskets: Fun Easy Gifts!

A wine gift basket is a great idea for a holiday gift for just about anyone on your holiday gift lists.  While no one we know would complain about a gift basket of just wine, adding a selection of gourmet cheeses and crackers to the wine is a great way of making your gift basket personable and family friendly!

Customizable, yet Simple Wine & Cheese Gift Baskets

The first thing to determine is who shall be receiving this most excellent gift! A Wine & Cheese gift basket is so popular that you might want to think about making one for more than one loved one on your gift list. They are good for friends, neighbors, co-workers and make great corporate gifts too. So before you buy the supplies, plan it through.

More than a Gift Basket

While the term Gift Basket implies a real basket, do not feel limited to that! A sturdy wooden box, or collectable antique crate will also do well.  You can get a nice new willow or twig basket in a craft  or hobby story  like Michael’s Crafts or pick up one from an import store like Pier One. On a budget? Try a handsome holiday decorative gift bag for just a few dollars. Bottom line, the basket is not the gift, only the receptacle to hold it all in place.

Choose the Wine for the Gift

This part is so easy! Because every wine sold at Wine on the Way is rated 90 points and above, you are guaranteed that the recipient of the gift will fully enjoy what every you select. Here’s the place, however, where you might want to think of a theme.  You can go classic with a Cabernet and Chardonnay or maybe stick with a region for your selection?  Think of French wines with French cheeses and a crusty banquette or Italian wines themed with the makings of lasagna with fine parmesan and fresh buffalo Mozzarella.  No one said that wine and cheese has to be chedder and crackers!

Maybe your gift is going to a very knowledgeable wine lover? Then try a tasting basket with three or more bottles of the same varietals. Add a gift from our wine lovers gift list and bask in the thank yous you shall receive!

Focus on Romance by adding chocolates, a pair of wine glasses, a bottle of fine champagne like the Roederer and this wine gift basket is not just holiday themed, but can be used for a wedding, anniversary or Valentine’s Day gift!

Putting your Wine & Cheese Gift Basket Together

So your wine selections for Wine on the Way have been delivered, you have gather up all the other accessories and food items and now it’s time to make it look special.  A quick trip to a basic store like target will give you great choices in tissue paper or packaging to put on the bottom of your container/basket. Not only will your gifts remain safe from harm, but the packaging materials give you a nice area to lay out all the components.  We like to use recycled paper confetti almost like how Easter grass is used in egg baskets!

You’ll want to arrange the bigger items, like the wine bottles, first, making sure that the label is showing and the bottles secure. Use a bit of clear backing tape if needed to keep everything snug. Then, from larger to smaller, add the other items that will be included in your gift basket.  The box of gourmet crackers, the wheel of cheese with a new cheese slicer on top can fist on one side while the pair of wine glasses and cork screw is on the other Don’t forget to pass along the tasting notes that came with your Wine on the Way delivery, so that people know how great the wine is and can see the ratings that you chose!

When you have everything looking attractive and not in danger of falling out, wrap it all up! While traditional paper might work and look festive, decorated cellophane works better and lets one peek inside to see the treats! You will also have less danger or the wrapping ripping. Add a big festive bow with colorful streamers and just sign the gift tag!

Party in a Basket! Wine and Cheese Gifts

So you made a great basket..in fact, it’s so nice you want to keep it for yourself? That’s OK. You can always order some more great wines from us, even after the holidays are over. Or, try our super sneaky advice.. bring a wine and cheese gift basket as a hostess gift to party; they usually get opened and shared right away.. so you can partake in the festivus with the rest of us!

Greg Norman Scores a Hole in One

Not being a fan of golf, I really had no idea what I was seeing when I grabbed the bottle of Greg Norman Estates 2007 Shiraz-Cabernet from Australia.  All I knew was that I have always enjoyed a Shiraz Cab blend and the other choice was a Chardonnay and while I have been very pleasantly surprised by some lovely Chardonnays, such as the 2007 Cuvaison, if you read here often enough, I am not an overall fan of a Chard.

Tasted on Virtue of being an Australian Shiraz-Cabernet

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Holiday Wine Related Gifts Designed for Lovers of Wine

While of course we highly recommend wine as a gift especially if one orders from the well rated selections from us at Wine on the Way or considers membership to our “My 90 Point Wine Club“; there are also many great gifts available to augment a gift to a recipient who appreciates the gift of wine.

Assorted Gifts for the Wine Lover

We took a little meander on the web and made a list of some of our favorite wine related gifts. Any of our selections would greatly add to the “wine experience” and would be a welcome addition to a wine gift set. Plus, all these wine gifts can be purchased online and delivered to your wine lover or i they would be a great addition to a wine gift basket you customize for others.

Top Ten! Wine on the Way’s Favorite Online Wine Gifts:

Wine Gifts  from Red Envelope (more…)

Dr. Loosen and his Riesling

We don’t gush and fawn over Dr. L simply because we are star struck. It’s more than his deep family roots in the German wine culture. It’s more than Dr. Loosen’s  approachable and unique character. These things, impressive as they may be, are just bonus.  If you ever doubt the reason to gush over Dr. Loosen, all one needs to do is taste what he does with Riesling.

Never Doubt Dr. L

I have to admit for a half second I felt that judgment base recoil when seeing the twist off metal top.  Truth be told, the metal twist tops on wine frustrate me as I often lack the hand strength to break the seal. I don’t like having to rely on someone else to gain me entrance into a bottle! Granted, once the seal has been broken, my problems are solved and yes, it is nice to know that if the bottle is not finished off in one seating, then the precious Riesling of Dr. Loosen will be safely sealed off again in my icebox. Bottom line: I am a cork snob and I got over it! Why? Because I tasted Dr. Loosen’s wine. (more…)

A Gourmet Gift Basket + Some Top Quality Wine = Perfect Present

Wine gift baskets for the holidays?  The fluster of the holiday season is indeed upon us, and we could all use a little bit of help when it comes to our gift-purchasing decisions—less time deliberating and stressing means more time to celebrate, right?  There is no need to be shy when it comes to looking for gift assistance, for many other people are in similar boats who also are unsure as to how to show their gratitude to, say, relatives and/or friends who live quite some distance away and whose gift preferences you know little about.  These circumstances can be easily handled:  the value of a gift basket is, for all intents and purposes, quite universal.  Isn’t that relieving to hear?  Who couldn’t use a little bit of gourmet cheese, crackers, chocolate truffles, almonds, olives, and, most importantly, wine for this joyful portion of the winter?

Wine Gift Baskets to the Rescue

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Meeting the Famed Dr. Loosen

Just recently, my wife, Gigi, and I had the pleasure of meeting THE Dr. Loosen at Luma on the Park in  Winter Park, Florida.  Needless to say, the experience was just about as unforgettable as the wines he creates.

The setting was perfect.  The invitational wine tasting was held in the “Cellar” of Luma, a beautiful and very impressive wine vault.  They use this space as a private dining room that can seat up to 48 for gatherings and event and, if you are in the area on Mondays, host some nice wine tasting events.

The deserved height Dr. Loosen (aka Ernst—we didn’t have to call him Dr all the time, but a part of us certainly wanted to out of sheer respect for this gentleman’s accomplishments) has earned throughout the wine world certainly hasn’t diminished his personable characteristics, and his readily approachable attitude and his exceptional expertise are no doubt two very crucial reasons for his success.  (more…)