Mount Eden Vineyards - Wines from our Library / Chardonnay

2007 Mount Eden Estate Bottled Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:34:00 GMT

2007 Mount Eden Estate Bottled Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Buy Now: $70.00

Reviews:
96ptsRobert Parker Jr's The WineAdvocate Issue #193 February 2011

Notes at release:

2007 was a drought year of historic severity. Sixteen inches fellduring the winter - the last time that happened was 1977, thirtyyears previously. Other than that, it was a great growing season.We still kept our dry-farming philosophy (the only sustainabilitythat works in my world) and the late summer, early fall weretextbook mild and sunny.

The style of this vintage is what I have been trying toachieve recently. Reticent in fruit yet buoyant in personality,this chardonnay has penetrating, compelling aromas unique to MountEden of earth, quince, and lime zest. On the palate, the firstimpression is of solid acidity with the fruit in the background butabundant richness, texture and minerality in the foreground.Overall, an exquisite, teasing tautness completes thepicture.

Built to age gracefully, expect improvement through 2012 and adrinking plateau through 2025 with proper cellaring.

Total Production 1,313 cases

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2006 Mount Eden Estate Bottled Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 13:47:00 GMT

2006 Mount Eden Estate Bottled Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Buy Now: $75.00

Reviews:

96 points Wine Spectator February 28, 2010
94 points International Wine Celler online
93 points The Wine Advocate Issue 1872/28/10

Notes at release:

Believe it or not, this vintage is at last calming down and gettinginteresting. A full two years after bottling--typical, puzzling andamazing.

Fermented on wild yeast in new and one-year old Burgundybarrels, this chardonnay is aged entirely on these yeast sedimentsfor ten months in our mountain cave with no movement whatsoever. Itwas bottled in July with a light filtration for clarity.

This is a subtle wine with hints of toasty lees, lanolin, limezest in the nose and high natural acidity with lively herb, citrus,mineral flavors on the palate. Burgundian in style, it is somewhatcontrasting with 2004 and 2005 which are more flamboyant. Asexpected, the finish is rich, long and mysterious. Given the slowevolving nature of the 2006, expect further improvement for thenext four to five years and a drinking plateau for at least anotherten.

Total Production: 2,387 cases

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2005 Estate Bottled Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 13:08:00 GMT

2005 Estate Bottled Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Buy Now: $80.00

Reviews:

96 points Robert Parker Jr's The Wine Advocate Issue 18012/21/08
96 points Editors Choice Wine Enthusiast February2009
93 points Wine Spectator March 31, 2009
90 points Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar(online December 2008)

Notes at release:

In 2005 many vineyards along the Northern California coast weredealt a hard blow during the flowering period and we were amongthem. Untimely rains reduced the crop to a historic low,however, the rest of the growing season was fantastic, cool andlong--thus the great and small of the wine world.

With such a small crop, less than one ton per acre, theripeness was effortless. Complex orchard fruit aromas ofpeach-nectarine combine with the more typical lemon-earth-aniseprofile that is associated with our Estate Chardonnay. Good acidityand total dryness drive the compelling finish. Youthfuland vibrant, this wine is drinking well but will be even better intwo to ten more years.

Barrel aged, sur-lie, for one year and bottled aged foranother two, the Estate Chardonnay takes this much time to fill outand develop its personality. This is the most enigmatic wine wemake.

Total Production: 1,239 cases

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