Winemaker Notes
The 2018 harvest started in early September under perfect ripening conditions. Included in the fermen- tations were 35% whole-cluster to add complexity and vibrancy. There are no "additions" to the winemaking; they employ indigenous yeast during fermentation. When bottled, there is no fining or filtration, creating a natural wine in every aspect.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Crushed stone, lit gunpowder, peppery herbs, sassafras, violets, and assorted red and black fruits all emerge from the 2018 Pinot Noir Estate, a brilliant release from this estate that's medium-bodied, has bright yet integrated acidity, beautiful balance, and a great, great finish. It's young and unevolved (yet it's already complex) and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, but this is a gorgeous California Pinot Noir on every level. It's going to drink well for over two decades.
Rating: 95+ -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Pinot Noir Estate is a reference point for the Santa Cruz Mountains in this even-handed, transparent vintage. Enticing aromas of red cherries, pomegranates, apple skin, fresh herbs and pine needles collect to form a signature Mount Eden nose. The mid-palate is initially silky and direct, quickly gaining momentum, power and delineation. Equal parts fresh, sweeping and tenacious, this has immediate appeal while displaying all the hallmarks of a long life in the cellar.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: One of California's historically significant Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Mount Eden Vineyards Estate continues this wine's legacy. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of red and blueberries, chalky notes, and sandalwood. Pair it with grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: October 19, 2022, Los Gatos, CA)
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
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.