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'S VINOUS MEDIA 91 POINTS - "The only non-estate wine in the Mount Eden portfolio, the 2022 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard comes from old vines in this Edna Valley site. Steely and vibrant, it opens with a vivid, rounded profile of sweet pear, peach, white flowers, salted lemon and mineral tension. Pliant and generous, the texture has a lovely suppleness, and a sweet note on the finish reminds me of Halloween candy corn. This will surely be a crowd-pleaser, representing a solid value play with excellent winemaking."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "A pleasant outlier in the Mount Eden lineup that derives from contracted fruit in Edna Valley, the 2022 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard presents a round, tropical-fruited profile that is delivered with admirable freshness. The palate echoes with a ripe, textural profile and concludes with a straightforward, clean 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 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'S VINOUS MEDIA 91 POINTS - "The only non-estate wine in the Mount Eden portfolio, the 2022 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard comes from old vines in this Edna Valley site. Steely and vibrant, it opens with a vivid, rounded profile of sweet pear, peach, white flowers, salted lemon and mineral tension. Pliant and generous, the texture has a lovely suppleness, and a sweet note on the finish reminds me of Halloween candy corn. This will surely be a crowd-pleaser, representing a solid value play with excellent winemaking."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS - "A pleasant outlier in the Mount Eden lineup that derives from contracted fruit in Edna Valley, the 2022 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard presents a round, tropical-fruited profile that is delivered with admirable freshness. The palate echoes with a ripe, textural profile and concludes with a straightforward, clean finish."
