Wine of the Month

Mount Eden Vineyards

Chardonnay Edna Valley West Slope Edna Ranch 2001

Mount Eden Vineyards

22020 Mt. Eden Road

Saratoga, CA  95070-9729

(888) 865-9463

Winemaker: Jeffrey Patterson

Comment:

You will have to look carefully to find this one.  Mount Eden is a well-established and respected maker of California Chardonnay, but their name is not prominent on the label.  Look instead for a label that says "West Slope Chardonnay" and hope you find some of the 4,362 cases made.

Mount Eden traces its history back to Martin Ray, who bought the old Paul Masson Champagne Company at the end of Prohibition and then became one of the pioneers of the boutique California wine industry.  The winemaker today is Jeffrey Patterson, who has been with the winery since 1981.

This wine is the first vintage for Mount Eden from the Edna Ranch vineyard.  It is a terrific value, and the winemaker says 2001 was a superb year in the Edna Valley.  If you like big, bold California Chardonnays, but don't want to be overwhelmed with oakiness, this is the one for you.

The 2001 vintage is sold out at the winery, but you might find it at your local store if you are lucky.  The next vintage was due to be released around the end of September, 2003.