TASTING NOTES:
One of the greatest Chardonnays made in California each vintage, this bottling blends riper elements of yellow peach and honey with the tension of tangerine rind and pink-grapefruit pith on the nose. The palate is very energetic and tangy, with orange peels, crushed sea shells and a touch of salt hanging from an extremely well-chiseled structure.
Wine Enthusiast, 95 pts
Pure silk on the palate, the 2013 Chardonnay Estate offers textbook notes of buttered apples, brioche, toasted bread and hints of minerality to go with medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful purity of fruit, no hard edges and impeccable balance. It's beautiful today, but should evolve gracefully for at least 5-6 years.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 pts
This is from a high altitude vineyard in the Santa Cruz Valley and is made from a single Chardonnay clone. Fermented and matured in French oak, this is only just starting to unfold. The lifted, evolved nose sends notes of heady, dried citrus zest against a sonorous backdrop of earthiness. Bit by bit, more fruit shows: Japanese pear and Golden Delicious apple are cloaked in a subtle, nutty haze of smoky oak. This has come together beautifully and is ready to drink, but it will stay on its elegant plateau for quite a while yet.
Decanter, 94 pts
Very distinctive, with a unique profile of flinty limestone, minerally citrus, green pear, honeydew and honeysuckle flavors, enlivened by zesty acidity, floral scents and a long, mouthwatering aftertaste that keeps repeating the core themes. Has an excellent track record for aging. Drink now through 2023.
Wine Spectator, 93 pts
WINEMAKER'S NOTES:
The full-bodied Estate Chardonnay displays fine underlying acidity and a long finish. Hints of cardamom, anise and hazelnut add interest to the core lemon, mineral flavors. Of all Mount Eden’s estate-grown wines, the Chardonnay is most in need of further bottle aging at release, requiring an additional two to four years to fully reveal its true character. Many vintages are still fresh and enjoyable after fifteen years, explaining why Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay is considered one of California’s longest-lived white wines.
