Domaine Eden Chardonnay 2018
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Wine
Enthusiast -
Wine &
Spirits - Vinous
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Jeb
Dunnuck
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Wine Enthusiast
Toasty wood aromas meet with lemon oil and concentrated honeysuckle on the nose of this affordable sister to Mount Eden. There is a firm grip to the palate, where those citrus and wood flavors converge alongside salted sunflower seeds and cashew.
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Wine & Spirits
When Mount Eden acquired the Cinnabar estate on a nearby ridge in Saratoga, it renamed the property Domaine Eden. This wine includes fruit from Domaine Eden as well as the original home site, representing the more fruit-forward lots, and it’s a beauty in 2018. Supple and round, this has layers of savory herb and flower petal notes, a contrast of voluptuous richness and delicacy. Pour it with an equally creamy pasta dressed in uni
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Vinous
The 2018 Chardonnay is such a gorgeous wine. Apricot, tangerine oil, butter, spice and a touch of reduction give the 2018 a decidedly exotic flair, but then the Santa Cruz Mountains minerality kicks in to frame things beautifully.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from an estate just to the south of the original estate (this property was purchased by Patterson in 2007), the 2018 Chardonnay is outstanding, with a rich yet vibrant style in its caramelized citrus, brioche, honeycomb, and smoky, mineral-like aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, balanced, and focused on the palate, it has that classic Santa Cruz mineral-like sensation, impressive balance, and a great finish. It will drink nicely for 3-5 years. Best After 2022
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Domaine Eden is a mountaintop wine estate purchased by Mount Eden Vineyards in 2007. Modeled after Mount Eden, it was founded and built by the late Tom Mudd in 1983, who initially planted the Mount Eden clonal selections of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, which evolved to include Pinot Noir from various Dijon and California selections. This is the former home of Cinnabar Winery.
This property inspired a new wine brand, Domaine Eden, which focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from this special site and Bordeaux varieties from Mount Eden’s larger home, the Santa Cruz Mountains.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A rugged and topographically diverse cool-climate appellation with a rich history, the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA stretches from Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, to the northern border of Monterey County. Elevations range from 800 feet to upwards of 3,000 and microclimates vary substantially depending on which side of the mountains the vineyards lie; cool ocean winds and fog play an important role here. This can be a challenging region in which to grow grapes, but it is well worth the effort. Santa Cruz Mountains wines are noted for balanced acidity levels, often showing great aging potential. Wine has been made here since the 1800s, most notably from the legendary Ridge Vineyards, whose Monte Bello vineyard garners international admiration.
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the stars of this region, while Merlot and Zinfandel also perform quite well. Organic and sustainable vineyard practices are becoming increasingly common.