Malbec Wine of the Month

Malbec Wine of the Month

by | Sep 5, 2022 | Cellar Events, Station Events, Wine of the Month

Malbec is our September wine of the month at Crystal Basin Cellars. A repeat award winner (latest is the 2022 Gold Medal from Foothill Wine Festival) and fan favorite, our Malbec is perfect for enjoying with a nice steak. Plum favors and spice dominate a finish featuring a long and mysterious spiciness. Learn more from our fearless leader, Mike Owen, as he talks with Rex on the Road about this delicious varietal.
Come in during September and enjoy a tasting with this delicious wine.
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Order some of our delicious Malbec to be delivered straight to you.

Malbec
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George Orwell

George Orwell

by | Jun 10, 2022 | Cellar Events, Station Events

Look, nobody is happy about it, but George Orwell got it right way back in the 1940’s when he tried to warn us. Those of us of a certain age read it in school and we subsequently noted the passage of the actual year 1984 with more than a bit of smugness that this sickly-looking alarmist had it all wrong.

All we can say is Oops.

Maybe time to get the Audible book fired up and revisit the messages from this visionary. Because of Orwell’s June 25th birthday – we declare that he is the Prophetic Meau-Faux for June.

Our Bagnum wines can be purchased at this special price at our Camino or Folsom location ONLY. (Sorry, no online orders.)

Schedule a tasting, and grab a bagnum (or two), as we celebrate this prophetic Meau-Faux.

Tastings in Camino can be scheduled by clicking HERE.

Tastings in Folsom can be scheduled by clicking HERE.

See you soon!
-The CBC Team

Reflections of a Stolen Year

Reflections of a Stolen Year

by | May 26, 2022 | Cellar Events, Station Events

It’s been 365 mornings since my quadruple bypass surgery.

The surgery itself wasn’t a surprise – that train had been coming down the tracks for almost 20 years. But, never knowing exactly when that train will arrive at the station – there is always the raw shock and realization of the event itself. I was fortunate in any number of ways. The confidence of my doctor and the medical team at Mercy was both astounding and infectious. If a good part of healing is mental, these folks set me on the best path even as the procedure was merely being discussed. I was fortunate to have my quas as a ‘young’ man and that seemed to allow my body to draw on the reserves it needed to heal. I was fortunate to have the unyielding support of my wife, family, friends, and the CBC team and customers. I was fortunate that our society’s medical technology has progressed to a point where the wildly invasive surgery I experienced is relatively commonplace. I’m fortunate that the surgery also apparently allows for (hopefully) numerous additional productive years in one’s life in a way that was not possible 30 years ago.
Effects? I have come to realize that doctors are not miracle workers – notwithstanding their great results in my case. I can’t quite determine if my apparently lesser energy level is due to the surgery or to the encroachment of middle age. Likewise, my periodic and infamous crankiness was NOT fixed by this particular surgery. There are some lasting impacts of the surgery – evidently having been officially dead has some longer-term effects. One is Pumphead (look it up), which is an odd and fuzzy-headed spaciness that appears from time to time. Not a good drug to be on. Drugs? I take a pile of pills and supplements daily that looks like a little kid’s Halloween candy bag. Not sure about each of these items, but for the moment, I need to trust the doctors who got me here. There are also some psychological impacts of the surgery where you slide up and down what I’ll call a manic/depressive scale. For more info, check with my wife and winery staff. Be prepared for a rant… 😉 As you probably know, I self-treat a lot with liberal doses of sarcasm.

In the 365 days since my surgery, lots of life has happened. All of the familiar and human emotions from celebration to mourning to exhaustion to disgust to love and appreciation to frustration are all badges that I continue to wear.

I hope to continue to wear and experience all the badges that modern humanity allows for as long as my body and the Good Lord will allow.

Stay tuned for another update! I’ll check in after I have a chance to enjoy the next 365 days.

Thanks for reading!

– Mike Owen

Carol Burnett Meau-Faux Celebration

Carol Burnett Meau-Faux Celebration

by | Apr 15, 2022 | Cellar Events, Station Events

Carol Burnett is one of the funniest Meau-Fauxs EVER! She and her merry band of tricksters made a generation laugh out loud – not just once but weekly. The enduring characters that she created and her brand of clean comedy bordering on slapstick set the bar high enough that it is unlikely to be attained again. Her birthday is April 26th and we are fortunate to still have her with us. For her unique and enduring contribution to humor and mirth, Crystal Basin honors her as a True Comedic Meau-Faux!
El Dorado County Passport Weekend

El Dorado County Passport Weekend

by | Apr 1, 2022 | Cellar Events

Visit Crystal Basin Cellars for a special tasting with your ticket to the El Dorado County Passport Weekend.

April 22 – 24 is the time to experience the beauty of El Dorado County one sip at a time! During this fun Passport Weekend, each winery you visit will bring you into an experience that captures the very essence of their unique story and bring your tastebuds into a euphoric estate with their absolutely incredible wine and food pairings. This is the perfect time to discover hidden gems, backroads that could lead you anywhere, and secrets and surprises that can make this event in this unexplored wine region an adventure you will never forget.

After all, the El Dorado wineries are surrounded by inspiring and breathtaking views, are home to dynamic agriculture and winemaking skills, and radiate with daring and inspiring spirit. Explorers that partake in this adventure can choose from 1-, 2-, and 3-day options, and with the ability to choose General Admission or VIP, you’ll be treated to the most spectacular journey no matter what!

Use the link below purchase your El Dorado County Passport Weekend tickets today!

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Wine of the Month – Cabernet Franc

Wine of the Month – Cabernet Franc

by | Mar 25, 2022 | Cellar Events, Station Events, Wine of the Month

Cabernet Franc is an ancient grape that can be traced back to the 1100s when the Breton monks planted that grape variety in the Loire Valley of France. As vineyards were planted to the west along the Loire River towards Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc cross-bred with Sauvignon Blanc, another native Loire grape to create Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc has long been the shadow of its more popular and more tannic offspring – often relegated to the status of a ‘blending wine’. Cabernet Franc is a lighter and more fruit-driven varietal, often expressing some ‘green’ elements of olives and green pepper. Thankfully, the El Dorado grapes that Crystal Basin uses are grown on decomposed granite soil, which drains well to the delight of the vines. The results is a silky fruit-forward expression of a rich wine with black cherry and violet notes.

Ask Mike if you want to hear another 15 to 20 minutes of wine-geekiness on Cabernet Franc.

 

 

Visit our locations in April to enjoy a special Wine of the Month tasting of our Cabernet Franc.

Learn more about Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino, CA
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Learn more about Crystal Basin Station in Folsom, CA
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Cabernet Franc
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