"Few wineries in California create more profound, distinctive wines than Mount Eden. Indeed, if I were to present to a visiting European, say, the wines of just one California winery to demonstrate the originality of California wine, I'd choose Mount Eden Vineyards."
– Matt Kramer, New California Wine
Mount Eden Vineyards is a small, historic wine estate located on a 2000 foot peak in the Santa Cruz Mountain Appellation, about 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Founded by Martin Ray in 1945, it is recognized as one of the original boutique California Winery properties, focusing on small lots of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Mount Eden Vineyard has been continuously producing estate bottled Pinot Noir and Chardonnay longer than anyone else in California.
Planted in austere, infertile Franciscan shale on a cool, exposed mountaintop, the 40 acre vineyard is farmed sustainably without any irrigation. It is comprised of 7 acres of Pinot Noir, 20 acres of Chardonnay and 13 acres of Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. In 2007 they purchased the former Cinnabar vineyard on a neighboring mountain top. Planted in 1983, this mature vineyard brought another 12 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as a little Cabernet Sauvignon. They renamed the property Domaine Eden and it has become the primary source for their Domaine Eden wines.
Winemaker and Proprietor Jeffrey Patterson has been making wine at Mount Eden since 1981. With three decades under his belt, he continues with the same goal as when he started: to express this singular vineyard. Fermentation is done with native yeasts, oak influence is kept minimal, and fining and filtering are minimal when used at all.
Few wineries in California have the sort of history that is found at Mount Eden and few wineries in the world can match the level of quality being produced here. This is a unique terroir being overseen by conscientious stewards and these are wines that could not possibly have come from anywhere else in the world. It's as pointless to compare these wines to Burgundy and Bordeaux as it is to compare them to the rest of California; these wines are Mount Eden, pure and simple.
51d
California » Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine Enthusiast 92 “Intense aromas of pine, cedar and incense meet with roasted black plum, deep violet and a hint of lavender on the layered nose
11eCalifornia » Santa Cruz Mountains
Vinous Media 92 "The 2015 Chardonnay is a gorgeous, pedigreed wine that captures all the brilliance and pedigree of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Weightless and gracious
43dCalifornia » Santa Cruz Mountains
Jeb Dunnuck 95 "The 2015 Chardonnay Estate comes all from the estate vineyard and mostly from a block of vines planted in 1990. Aged in 50%
1bCalifornia » Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine & Spirits 92 "The delicacy of this pinot noir keeps it airy even as its red fruit saturates the texture and some youthful reductive notes
10eCalifornia » Edna Valley
Wine Enthusiast 91 "This Santa Cruz Mountains-based winery has been making a value-driven Edna Valley Chardonnay since 1985, and this one does not disappoint, Pungent aromas
California » Santa Cruz Mountains
Jeb Dunnuck 96 “Seeing roughly one-third whole clusters and a mix of new and neutral oak, the 2015 Pinot Noir Estate is another terrific wine from
Vinous Media 92 "Another gorgeous wine, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is a huge overachiever in its price range. Inky dark red and blue-fleshed fruit, smoke, spices
Wine Enthusiast 90 "Presented with subtlety on the nose, this bottling by the iconic Santa Cruz Mountains winery delivers scents of toasted pine nuts and
Wine Enthusiast 95 Editors' Choice WE TOP 100 2016 Rank 9 "While this wine's Mount Eden sister bottling may better stand the test of time, the Domaine Eden
Wine Advocate 93 “The 2015 Pinot Noir from Domaine Eden is very pretty, offering up a youthfully expressive bouquet of red cherries, raspberries, currant leaf and
Vinous Media 90 "Domaine Eden's 2014 Pinot Noir is a pleasant, easygoing mid-weight wine to drink now and over the next few years. Sweet floral notes,
Vinous Media 93 "Domaine Eden's 2013 Chardonnay is subtle, poised and gracious to the core. Dried pear, dried flowers, sage, mint and chamomile grace the palate
Wine Enthusiast 94 Top 100 of 2015 - #16 "This more affordable cousin to the Mount Eden brand is just as good, though different. It presents
Wine Spectator 95 WS TOP 100 2014 Rank 11 " This stunning wine is deliciously rich and layered, with vibrant flavors of honeydew, honeysuckle, fig and mineral
Wine Enthusiast 93 "This Cab shows intensely pure blueberry fruit alongside cocoa, sandalwood, dried scarlet rosebuds, leather and pencil shavings on the nose. Very savory on
Wine Enthusiast 93 WE TOP 100 2014 Rank 17 "Buttered toast, oaky smoke and a slight mango tropicality converge for an epic nose on this
Wine Spectator 95 "Spicy, toasty, aromatic oak offers an enticing start, with a fresh, vibrant core of lemon-lime, lemon curd, white peach and stone fruit,
Wine Enthusiast 92 "This offers good quality for the price from this historic producer, which heads south to this dry-farmed vineyard planted in 1976.
California » Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine Enthusiast 95 "One of the greatest Chardonnays made in California each vintage, this bottling blends riper elements of yellow peach and honey with the tension
Vinous Media 92 "Mount Eden's 2014 Chardonnay Old Vines, from a site in Edna Valley, is pretty, understated and gracious. Pear, white flowers and sweet
Wine Enthusiast 93 'Editors' Choice' "Once again, this more affordable “younger brother” to the Mount Eden bottling competes with gusto. Including 14% Merlot, 6% Cabernet
California » Santa Cruz Mountains
Wine Enthusiast 92 "Grapefruit rind, yogurt, sour cream and warm pear show on the nose of this bottling. There is great acidity on the sip, with
Jeb Dunnuck 97 "One of the finest vintages of this cuvée I’ve tasted, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a thrill a minute with its fabulous
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