The Mount Eden 2008 Chardonnay Saratoga Cuvee flows from the glass with layers of juicy, varietal fruit. A sweet harmonious finish rounds things out in style. The Saratoga Cuvee is made from the estate’s more forward wines in barrel and is meant to be approachable early. It is a gorgeous, reasonably priced wine from Mount Eden. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. Mount Eden is a reference point winery, especially known for fine, ageworthy Chardonnays. I tasted a wide range of wines with Owner and Winemaker Jeffrey Patterson, one of the pioneers of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mount Eden has a new, entry-level series called Domaine Eden, which is made partially from grapes sourced from a hillside property in Saratoga that once belonged to Cinnabar and that had originally been planted with Mount Eden clones. Ideally the Mount Eden wines need to be opened well in advance, as they can be a bit awkward when young.Tel (888) 865-9463; info@mounteden.com

The 2007 Chardonnay Saratoga Cuvee exhibits copious amounts of honeyed orange, nectarine, and citrus blossom notes intermixed with hints of caramel and marmalade. A more tropical, fruit-forward wine than the Estate, it possesses less minerality and definition, but will offer delicious drinking over the next 2-3 years. This iconic winery continues to offer wines with personalities and styles that set them apart (especially the estate wines) from just about anything else readers will taste from California. Estate grown as well as purchased grapes are utilized in their less expensive Saratoga Cuvees.Tel. (888) 865-9463