Wine of the Week!

Moon Mountain Vineyards 2004 Chardonnay   $35               

Here’s to our continuing New Year’s Resolution: to rediscover California Chardonnay. Our wine of the week pick for you is Moon Mountain Vineyards 2004 Chardonnay from Sonoma.

Moon Mountain vineyards are nestled in a bowl shaped scoop of volcanic rock about 1000 feet up from the Sonoma Valley floor. It’s a beautiful spot and a great place to grow grapes that like to dig in and work hard for moisture.

This Chardonnay has a crisp citrusy flavor, like putting a squeeze of lemon on a favorite food to bring out the flavor. You’ll probably like that it’s not overly oaky too. Maybe it’s the mountainside grapes, but Moon Mountain Chard reminds us of Burgundy’s Chablis.

This is a winery you should put on your must visit list with a view from the top ridge that’s awesome. And, yes, the moon does rise over the mountain at harvest time.

Enjoy our pick of the week for about fifteen dollars…Moon Mountain 2004 Chardonnay from Sonoma.

You can post your comments on this or any other wine right here. Do it! Then…

Pop the Cork™.

Wine on the Radio - February 16, 2007

Winemaker's notes and comments:

The 2004 Moon Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay from Sonoma County shows intense aromas of apple pie and spice, while delicate nuances of vanilla from oak aging add complexity and richness. Mouth filling flavors of pear and citrus are complemented by refreshing acidity. Lightly oaked, the wine shows the natural crisp fruit flavors of the varietal that have made Chardonnay the king of white wines. A beautifully balanced finish adds to the classic style of this Chardonnay, which pairs wonderfully with grilled fish or roasted fowl dishes. If you are planning to serve this wine with cheese, we recommend Morbier, Gruyère, Winchester Gouda or Brie.

Moon Mountain Vineyard is located high on the Sonoma Valley side of Mount Veeder, at nearly the 2,000-foot elevation. The steep, southern-facing slopes consist of soils called the Sonoma Volcanics, which are derived from rock, volcanic ash and lava. These soils, combined with the rigors of growing on the mountainside, push the vines to work harder, resulting in small, intensely flavored fruit. To balance these rugged conditions, we organically farm each row to gently enhance the complexity of the vineyard by creating a rich, healthy growing environment and produce grapes with pure flavors and a pronounced sense of place.

Notes on our Wines of the Week, Recommendations, and Picks:

When you read our thoughts, please remember that you may think differently.  A particular wine may be your favorite and not on our list.  Well, don't stop buying it because of that.  In fact, you may want to email us and let us know about it. These are our opinions but our FIRST recommendation is to go by your own palate.

A couple of other thoughts . . . first, prices are approximate.  They'll vary.  Second, different vintages mean different grapes and different tastes so our recommendation for a 2000 Merlot may not hold for 2001.

And lastly, we remind you to drink responsibly!  Now, all that said, here is a summary of  links to our suggestions.  Find one (or more) and pop the cork!

Read the fine print . . .

Wine consumption can have positive physical benefits or cause possible physical harm . . . the medical community is divided in some areas.  If you have any doubt, check with your doctor before consuming wine or any other alcoholic drink. 

Our information is well researched.  Recommendations are based on our opinions at the time of publication.  At the same time, recommendations change.  Also, there may be significant variance in taste depending on storage, shipping, and other factors.

The Wine Experience is not liable or responsible for any consequences arising from the use of the information obtained from winexperience.com, wineexp.com or The Wine Experience radio show.

The Wine Experience is intended for adults (over 21 years old).  Drink responsibly and don't drink and drive!