I have been following Mount Eden Vineyards for a few years now and have been consistently impressed with their quality across the board. While I’m usually impressed with their Pinot Noir, their Chardonnay gets the accolades as one of the finest and most age-worthy in California.
Mount Eden doesn’t do tastings and only offers visits by appointment. I contacted them well in advance of our trip to California and explained that I’m a blogger and a huge fan of their wine and they obliged to have my wife and I come by. We were treated to a beautiful two hour visit with Ellie Patterson, Jeffery’s wife. The Pattersons have been making wine at Mount Eden since the 1981 vintage and continue to do so today as majority owners. Jeffery is focusing on traditional wine making, crafting his wine in the idiom of the old world. All wines have wonderful aromatic complexity and great acid levels, helping to make them particularly food friendly.
On August 21st my wife and I made the trek up from San Jose to Mount Eden, which involved climbing over 2000 feet in elevation on their winding 2.2 mile dirt driveway. Once you get to the top the view alone is worth it. This is the single most spectacular wine visit I have ever done. The winery overlooks the Silicon Valley with rolling hills of vineyards in all directions. The wraparound porch at the Patterson’s home is covered with vines and adorned with rocking chairs. This place is special. Set apart from any other place I’ve visited, it leaves you with a feeling that you have just transcended the earth, up to the heavenly realms. Ellie showed us a picture of the estate on a foggy day. They are above the fog line and the picture felt as if the vineyard were in heaven.
Ellie was so incredibly personable and was very knowledgeable about their wine making philosophy and the rich history of the estate. Generously, Ellie opened five lovely bottles for tasting all of which were showing wonderfully. My detailed notes are shown below:
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2011 Domaine Eden Chardonnay - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
This was a very nice way to start things off. The fruit profile comes across as mostly orchard and melon fruits, but also with a slightly tropical edge and a fair whack of oak. Lovely aromas of hazelnut, pineapple and cantaloupe waft from the glass. the palate has razor sharp acidity keeping this quite refreshing, with a finish that is medium in length. Giving this a little time in the bottle for the oak to integrate couldn’t hurt. Very nicely done for the money. This comes from declassified barrels from Mount Eden’s estate vineyards as well as fruit from recently purchased property on an adjacent hillside at a slightly lower elevation (formerly the home of Cinnabar Winery). (91 pts.) -
2011 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Moving on from the Domain Eden Bottling this comes across with more complexity and overall structure. Definitely built for the long haul and would benefit from some cellar time. It really drinks much like a lesser Grand Cru white Burgundy. The nose is of cashew, bay leaf, lemon zest, vanilla & lemon laced custard, orchard fruit and floral perfume notes. The palate has very high acid levels though with a mouth filling roundness on the mid-palate. The finish is a tad austere and with quite a lot of sour acid and a bitter edge. The finish is still quite long replaying mineral notes well after the wine is consumed. Would be wonderful to try this in 10 years. (93 pts.) -
2012 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
It’s evident from the first pour this wine is made in a very light, Burgundian style. The colour is fully transparent. As soon as your nose approaches the glass an enormous amount of spice lifts from the glass. There is a floral, high-toned edge that is hugely appealing. My perception was that at least some protion of whole cluster fermentation was used, but Ellie says there wasn’t any in this vintage. Also on the nose: cherry, pomegranate, blood orange, brown spice and potting soil. The palate is beautifully light with very good acid, low tannins, and lots of red berry fruit with a citrusy edge. Finish is medium in length carried on the mouth feel of the juice of a blood orange. This is a wine that will drink better in the earlier term. I expect a sweet spot in the next 3-5 years. Very restrained. Very Burgundian. Can’t believe this is 14.5% alcohol, it hides it well. (92 pts.) -
2012 Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot Noir - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
This is another very elegant Pinot from Mount Eden. The nose is like the Domaine bottling, but is more complex and powerful. It also pours just a hair darker but is still transparent. Aromas just blast from the glass: Asian five spice, ginger, blood orange, grapefruit, pomegranite and cranberry. Palate is so light and pure with fantastic acid and medium to low dusty tannin. Finish is medium plus built on red fruit, grapefruit, and spice. Ellie indicated this was about 30% whole cluster fermented. This has just a bit more aging potential and aromatic complexity than the Domaine bottling. (93 pts.) -
2010 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Every time I taste one of these I wonder how long it will take for the abundant fruit to subside and give way for the more secondary and tertiary elements to come forward. Seems like it could take upwards of 20 years, but haven’t had one that old to verify. In any case this is inky dark in colour and offers up massive, optimally ripe fruit spanning the range of black currant, blackberry, plum, dark cherry, and purple licorice. As well there are just hints of secondary components poking through: leather, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. I’m sure that the fact that this had been open for two days benefited it. The palate is quite dryingly tannic with some good sour acid. Finish is medium in length. For my palate that values secondary and tertiary aromas, this will need quite a long sleep in the cellar. (92 pts.)
