Winemaker Notes
Classic aromas of citrus, honeysuckle and a nuance of hazelnut are abundant. Focused acidity and linear flavors of lemon, cardamom and minerality come through on the palate.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The wines of Mount Eden frequently show unique profiles. This Chardonnay exemplifies that, with aromas of trampled lemons on orchard floor, wild mint and verbena on the earthy nose. The palate combines a tremendously firm grip with a buttery warmth, offering a shiso-like minty sensation across flavors of melon and toasted nut.
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Wine & Spirits
Texturally beautiful, this is all about touch, with a flower petal note of chamomile, and the earthiness of citrus and stone. Mount Eden Chardonnays have a strong track record for aging, this this one is structured to last. Pale and zesty, if you open it now, the lime flavors take it to Mexican or Native American foods.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2020 Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Chardonnay is a formidable wine. This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of chalky notes and rocks-in-the-desert. Try this wine with pan-fried Red Snapper. (Tasted: August 26, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Shows nutmeg, cardamom and a touch of clove, which add aromatic interest to the core of Fuji apple, lemon zest, pear pastry and crème anglaise flavors. Features fresh, vibrant acidity that brightens up the flavors on a sleek, juicy frame.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Chardonnay Estate is ripe and tropical on the nose, displaying its new oak élevage with aromas of mango, papaya, crushed stones, toffee and crème brûlée. The palate is glossy and round before livening up on the finish, which wraps around a subtle but consistent core of acidity. This is a solid effort considering the immense challenges of the vintage.
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Vinous
The 2020 Chardonnay is a very beautiful wine in a hugely challenging year. The ripe flavor profile is a reminder of the intense heat during the growing season. Even so, the 2020 remains medium in body, with slightly phenolic contours. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, hazelnut, spice and tropical accents open with coaxing. The balance here is not perfect, but that was not possible. Instead, I am super-impressed with the way this wine overachieves the potential of the year. I would prefer to drink this over the next few years, before the fruit fades, as there is some underlying aggressiveness that will become stronger over time.
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.