The heritage of Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon dates back to the 1890s, when the famed viticulturist Emmett Rixford of Woodside, California obtained selected cuttings from Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux, France. Rixford planted his famous La Questa Vineyard with these selections, in the same proportions as found at Margaux.
In the late 1940s Martin Ray planted his first Cabernet vineyard with cuttings from the La Questa Vineyard. Mount Eden's present-day Estate Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in the early 1980s using cuttings taken from these vines. Yields are low, typically one to two tons per acre. Soils are very thin (1-12 inches), with a dominant base of Franciscan shale. The climate is cool, especially for Cabernet, and influenced by the vineyard's altitude and its proximity to San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The vines are trellised in a modern fashion, which allows for a more uniform ripening. The vineyard also contains small blocks of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "More intense than the 2018, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon blends 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot into an elegantly medium-bodied mountain expression of rounded tannins, crunchy red fruit, and notes of iron and smoked meat. From the estate's 1,600-foot elevation, it shows plenty of structure and tannin power without being heavy, though it will benefit greatly, as these wines always do, from decanting and/or aging another 10-20 years."
VINOUS 95 POINTS - "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is everything this wine should be and can be. Floral, deep and yet also light on its feet, the 2019 is a model of total elegance. Crushed flowers, herbs, menthol, rose petal and sweet pipe tobacco run through a core of red-toned Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. The 2019 is perhaps not quite as explosive as the best wines in this range, but it does possess magnificent finesse and tons of personality. Don't miss it."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS - "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a fresh, vibrant showing of this historically consistent and always elegant wine. The nose opens with refined aromas of loganberry, clay dust, roses, redwood and oiled leather. The palate is svelte, plush and lifted with youthful yet accessible tannins and a pleasing, high-toned finish. This wine always benefits substantially from cellaring until the 10-year mark and should provide a wonderful drinking experience for two decades beyond that."
In the late 1940s Martin Ray planted his first Cabernet vineyard with cuttings from the La Questa Vineyard. Mount Eden's present-day Estate Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in the early 1980s using cuttings taken from these vines. Yields are low, typically one to two tons per acre. Soils are very thin (1-12 inches), with a dominant base of Franciscan shale. The climate is cool, especially for Cabernet, and influenced by the vineyard's altitude and its proximity to San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The vines are trellised in a modern fashion, which allows for a more uniform ripening. The vineyard also contains small blocks of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
JEB DUNNUCK 96 POINTS - "More intense than the 2018, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon blends 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot into an elegantly medium-bodied mountain expression of rounded tannins, crunchy red fruit, and notes of iron and smoked meat. From the estate's 1,600-foot elevation, it shows plenty of structure and tannin power without being heavy, though it will benefit greatly, as these wines always do, from decanting and/or aging another 10-20 years."
VINOUS 95 POINTS - "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is everything this wine should be and can be. Floral, deep and yet also light on its feet, the 2019 is a model of total elegance. Crushed flowers, herbs, menthol, rose petal and sweet pipe tobacco run through a core of red-toned Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. The 2019 is perhaps not quite as explosive as the best wines in this range, but it does possess magnificent finesse and tons of personality. Don't miss it."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 94 POINTS - "The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a fresh, vibrant showing of this historically consistent and always elegant wine. The nose opens with refined aromas of loganberry, clay dust, roses, redwood and oiled leather. The palate is svelte, plush and lifted with youthful yet accessible tannins and a pleasing, high-toned finish. This wine always benefits substantially from cellaring until the 10-year mark and should provide a wonderful drinking experience for two decades beyond that."
