Winemaker Notes
Barrel fermented with complete malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged on its lees for ten months in 50% new Burgundy barrels. This barrel regimen gives the wine weight. Apple blossom and honeysuckle aromas are the high notes with reductive earth flavors forming the basis. The lengthy finish bodes well for a long evolution.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay Estate was harvested before the intense heat waves of Labor Day, causing it to retain a fresh, vibrant core. Its nose displays the signature Mount Eden aromas of honeycomb, yellow apple and orchard blossom. The palate is decadent but balanced, with refreshing and tangy acidity running through to the finish. After aeration, its honeyed richness comes to the foreground, and the influence of new oak becomes more apparent. This should age beautifully and, in fact, could still be on the young side. Rating : 93+
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.