2008 Mount Eden Estate Bottled Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains

Reviews:
Notes at release:

All of our estate vineyards are non-irrigated (a rarity today). Every drop of water the vine uses comes from the sky. This is not because we can't irrigate, it's because this practice makes a more authentic, concentrated wine and reflective of the vintage. In addition, no yeast is added for fermentation. All are native and spontaneous (the same is true for malolactic). Again this is not because we can't but the wine is truer to its terroir and lower in alcohol. All of these procedures involve high risk and high reward. As I approach my thirtieth vintage at Mount Eden it's amazing how the winemaking has become as minimalist as possible.

 

This is our first offering from 2008. The growing conditions fit many parameters of high quality: low rainfall (25 inches), successful bloom in the spring and a moderate summer heat. The wine has a classic ruby hue, like only Pinot Noir has, with a sweet explosive nose of soft red fruit, cherry, pomegranate and earth. To me this variety is all about fruit and earth--round, generous and intense on the palate this vintage has the expected flavors of the Pinot Noir family of raspberry, plum black cherry and earth. Some tannin on the finish is apparent with great buttressing acidity.

 

Given our sixty-five year lineage, one should expect improvement through 2018 and a drinking plateau for another decade in a good cellar.

 

Total Production: 969 cases