What do you do when you are one of the most historic and highly-praised wineries in California making some of the best scoring Chardonnays? If you are Mount Eden, then you do it again!
Mount Eden is one of California's first truly boutique wineries. After prohibition, a gentleman by the name of Martin Ray began producing wine from this area using "obscure" grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at a time when inferior grapes were the norm. His wines quickly became known as being some of the best in the state. He then sold that property and purchased a superior site "...just up the hill." That new property is what he named Mount Eden, and it is not uncommon for the Chardonnays to earn 95+ point scores from the critics, and these are some of the best Chardonnays made in California!
The Mount Eden wines show the same amazing qualities found in many of the Grand Crus from Burgundy; minerality, complexity, ripe orchard fruit, but restrained the use of new oak. In addition to their estate wines, they produce a second wine called Domaine Eden. Sourced from a well-maintained vineyard just one mile away from their estate, Mount Eden utilizes the same exacting methods for their estate wines: natural indigenous fermentations - both primary and secondary, French Burgundy barrels, no fining, filtration or any other manipulation. The yields off the Domaine Eden vineyard are equivalent to wines that sell for 2x-3x times this price!
This has been a perennial favorite of Chardonnay drinkers that prefer a more Burgundian-styled wine, and the incredible 2022 vintage is no different. Virginie Boone of JebDunnuck.com rated this at 94 points, and says "it’s a bang-for-your-buck blockbuster that dazzles in hints of honey, oak spice, and fresh-cut pear".
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "A concentrated, fruit-forward wine that reflects its warmer vintage, the 2022 Chardonnay offers great tension across the medium-bodied palate, a studied balance between richness and freshness. Including 27% Mount Eden estate grapes, it’s a bang-for-your-buck blockbuster that dazzles in hints of honey, oak spice, and fresh-cut pear, aged 10 months on the lees and then barrel-aged in older French oak. Enjoy now through 2033."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "Perennially a blend of grapes from Domaine Eden and Mount Eden, the 2022 Chardonnay is abnormally focused on Domaine Eden in this vintage due to low yields at the Mount Eden Estate. It was barrel fermented in 20% new barrique and underwent bâtonnage. It opens with an elegant, impressively lifted bouquet with matchstick accents, followed by a polished, textural palate and a succulent, lithe finish."
Mount Eden is one of California's first truly boutique wineries. After prohibition, a gentleman by the name of Martin Ray began producing wine from this area using "obscure" grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at a time when inferior grapes were the norm. His wines quickly became known as being some of the best in the state. He then sold that property and purchased a superior site "...just up the hill." That new property is what he named Mount Eden, and it is not uncommon for the Chardonnays to earn 95+ point scores from the critics, and these are some of the best Chardonnays made in California!
The Mount Eden wines show the same amazing qualities found in many of the Grand Crus from Burgundy; minerality, complexity, ripe orchard fruit, but restrained the use of new oak. In addition to their estate wines, they produce a second wine called Domaine Eden. Sourced from a well-maintained vineyard just one mile away from their estate, Mount Eden utilizes the same exacting methods for their estate wines: natural indigenous fermentations - both primary and secondary, French Burgundy barrels, no fining, filtration or any other manipulation. The yields off the Domaine Eden vineyard are equivalent to wines that sell for 2x-3x times this price!
This has been a perennial favorite of Chardonnay drinkers that prefer a more Burgundian-styled wine, and the incredible 2022 vintage is no different. Virginie Boone of JebDunnuck.com rated this at 94 points, and says "it’s a bang-for-your-buck blockbuster that dazzles in hints of honey, oak spice, and fresh-cut pear".
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "A concentrated, fruit-forward wine that reflects its warmer vintage, the 2022 Chardonnay offers great tension across the medium-bodied palate, a studied balance between richness and freshness. Including 27% Mount Eden estate grapes, it’s a bang-for-your-buck blockbuster that dazzles in hints of honey, oak spice, and fresh-cut pear, aged 10 months on the lees and then barrel-aged in older French oak. Enjoy now through 2033."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS - "Perennially a blend of grapes from Domaine Eden and Mount Eden, the 2022 Chardonnay is abnormally focused on Domaine Eden in this vintage due to low yields at the Mount Eden Estate. It was barrel fermented in 20% new barrique and underwent bâtonnage. It opens with an elegant, impressively lifted bouquet with matchstick accents, followed by a polished, textural palate and a succulent, lithe finish."
