Tasting Notes

Release Date: Spring 2010

The focus of this Cuvée is to present a Santa Cruz Mountain, terroir-driven, accessible Chardonnay to enjoy now. Farmed entirely at Mount Eden and produced as Estate Chardonnay, we go through the cellar in the winter to select the barrels for this wine based upon the parameters of forward fruit and greater development.

The nose exhibits copious amounts of honeyed orange, nectarine and citrus blossom intermixed with hints of caramel and marmalade. Rich and textured on the palate, this Chardonnay has good acidity (which is essential) admirable purity and a long finish. Its aging potential is five to seven years.

Production

1,950

Tech Notes

Harvest: August 31st-September 5th

Numbers @ Harvest: 24.0° Brix, 8.3 grams acidity, 3.42 pH

Barrel Regimen: French Burgundy 50% new; 100% barrel fermented, 100% Malolactic; aged 9 months

Bottling: June 2008

Alcohol: 13.8%

Reviews

89 points Robert Parker Jr's The Wine Advocate - February 2010

Issue #187

The 2007 Chardonnay Saratoga Cuvee exhibits copious amounts of honeyed orange, nectarine, and citrus blossom notes intermixed with hints of caramel and marmalade. A more tropical, fruit-forward wine than the Estate, it possesses less minerality and definition, but will offer delicious drinking over the next 2-3 years.

L.A. Times - June 29, 2011

L.A. Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila says you can trick your friends with this wine find

Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Chardonnay is consistently one of the finest from California. But this one from the winery’s Saratoga line — designed to showcase the Santa Cruz Mountain terroir — is a real find at this price.

The fruit is right there in the first sip. Light on the oak, the 2007 Saratoga Chardonnay carries a gentle lilt of citrus and a touch of anise. Like its big brother, it is Burgundian in style, grace in a glass.

Bring it to a dinner party as a ringer: It could be mistaken for a very expensive bottle.

Pour it with Copper River salmon, lobster, crab or a warm seafood salad.