What do you do when you are one of the most historic, 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 use of new oak. In addition to their estate vineyards, they purchase a small amount of grapes from Edna Valley, a cool-climate region in California's Central Coast. Edna Valley has one of the longest growing seasons in the world, which slows ripening and helps to develop great nuances of flavor while retaining its elegant nature. This particular vineyard is the oldest in the Edna Valley, and yields are equivalent to those whose wines are 2x-3x times this price! Mount Eden makes this wine in essentially the same manner as their estate fruit; grapes are pressed without crushing, and barrel fermented in French Burgundy barrels.
ANTONIO GALLONI 91 POINTS - "The 2021 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard is bright, effusive and super-expressive. Tangerine oil, mint, white flowers and marzipan open nicely in this creamy, mid-weight Chardonnay. In 2021, the Wolff Chardonnay has a lightly tropical quality that is distinctive and appealing. This is the last vintage from the original plantings that date back to the 1971s, some of which have now been replanted. Yields were less than one ton per acre."
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 use of new oak. In addition to their estate vineyards, they purchase a small amount of grapes from Edna Valley, a cool-climate region in California's Central Coast. Edna Valley has one of the longest growing seasons in the world, which slows ripening and helps to develop great nuances of flavor while retaining its elegant nature. This particular vineyard is the oldest in the Edna Valley, and yields are equivalent to those whose wines are 2x-3x times this price! Mount Eden makes this wine in essentially the same manner as their estate fruit; grapes are pressed without crushing, and barrel fermented in French Burgundy barrels.
ANTONIO GALLONI 91 POINTS - "The 2021 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard is bright, effusive and super-expressive. Tangerine oil, mint, white flowers and marzipan open nicely in this creamy, mid-weight Chardonnay. In 2021, the Wolff Chardonnay has a lightly tropical quality that is distinctive and appealing. This is the last vintage from the original plantings that date back to the 1971s, some of which have now been replanted. Yields were less than one ton per acre."
