Tasting Feb. 5th at The Chapel Hill Wine Company in connection with Triangle Wine Experience. Grapes were from estate vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains, CA except for the Chardonnay from Wolff Vineyard.
2013 Mount Eden Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley (San Luis Opispo County, CA) From oldest vineyard in Edna Valley, originally planted in 1976. I preferred this over the Domaine Eden Chardonnay which cost more. Uses approx. 40% new oak. I found it to be full of fruit and with some coconut notes but it tasted less "sweet" to me than the next wine. It was available that day at a sale price of $20.99 and I purchased one bottle to take home.
2012 Domaine Eden Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains. Usually composed of 60% Mount Eden grapes and 40% Domaine Eden grapes. As I indicated in above note, this had a "sweet" taste to me and I don't care for sweet Chardonnay unless it is a true "late harvest" wine.
2012 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains. "A mosaic of different selections and clones" farmed to "Mount Eden's strict standards of sustainability, dry farming and low yields." My main impression was a smokiness to this wine.
2011 Mount Eden Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains. Approx. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. "High mountain, cool coastal vineyard [leads to] moderate alcohol." Recommended cellaring is 10 to 15 years. This received a high rating from one critic but I would need to give it more cellar time before judging it.
