2007 Estate Chardonnay

The Mount Eden 2007 Chardonnay Estate (normal release) comes across as quite lush and fat relative to the Reserve tasted alongside it. This is a sweet, generous style, with beautifully filled out layers of fruit and an open, inviting personality, while the Reserve is decidedly more mineral-driven and pointed. Vintage 2007 was the driest year at Mount Eden since 1977. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. Mount Eden is a reference point winery, especially known for fine, ageworthy Chardonnays. I tasted a wide range of wines with Owner and Winemaker Jeffrey Patterson, one of the pioneers of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mount Eden has a new, entry-level series called Domaine Eden, which is made partially from grapes sourced from a hillside property in Saratoga that once belonged to Cinnabar and that had originally been planted with Mount Eden clones. Ideally the Mount Eden wines need to be opened well in advance, as they can be a bit awkward when young. Tel (888) 865-9463; info@mounteden.com

Bright gold. Lively, mineral-laced aromas of pear, quince and white flowers, with subtle vanilla and spice notes in the background. Sappy and light on its feet, with surprisingly dense orchard fruit flavors and an exotic hint of papaya. The mineral quality comes back on a pure, nervy and tightly focused finish, which is impressively persistent. Balanced for aging but this will probably be in top drinking form in another four or five years.