Tasting Notes

Release Date: Fall 2023

Drought returned for our 2020 vintage and is forever on our minds. We dry farm here, and water, or the lack thereof, is always a concern. The new normal in these warm, dry years is accelerated ripening; we completed our Chardonnay harvest by the end of August.

Classic aromas of citrus, honeysuckle and a nuance of hazelnut are abundant. Focused acidity and linear flavors of lemon, cardamom and minerality come through on the palate.

Of course, this Chardonnay is extremely enjoyable now, but aging in a good cellar for ten years will bring its own reward.

 

Production

935

Tech Notes

Rain Total in 2020: 20.6 inches

Yield: 1.5 tons per acre

Harvest Dates: August 21st-26th, hand harvested

Numbers @ Harvest: 23.2° Brix, 3.30 pH, 8.5 grams acidity

Fermentation: 100% natural primary and secondary (malolactic) barrel fermentation

Barrel: 100% barrel aged in new and one-year-old old French Oak

Aging: 10 months in barrel, sur-lie;

Bottling: July 2021

Alcohol: 14%

Reviews

95 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine  - December 2023

The wines of Mount Eden frequently show unique profiles. This Chardonnay exemplifies that, with aromas of trampled lemons on orchard floor, wild mint and verbena on the earthy nose. The palate combines a tremendously firm grip with a buttery warmth, offering a shiso-like minty sensation across flavors of melon and toasted nut. —M.K.

94 points Wine & Spirits Magazine  - October 2023

Texturally beautiful, this is all about touch, with a flower petal note of chamomile, and the earthiness of citrus and stone. Mount Eden Chardonnays have a strong track record for aging, this this one is structured to last. Pale and zesty, if you open it now, the lime flavors take it to Mexican or Native American foods. —J.G.

90 points Antonio Galloni presents Vinous - October 2023

The 2020 Chardonnay is a very beautiful wine in a hugely challenging year. The ripe flavor profile is a reminder of the intense heat during the growing season. Even so, the 2020 remains medium in body, with slightly phenolic contours. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, hazelnut, spice and tropical accents open with coaxing. The balance here is not perfect, but that was not possible. Instead, I am super-impressed with the way this wine overachieves the potential of the year. I would prefer to drink this over the next few years, before the fruit fades, as there is some underlying aggressiveness that will become stronger over time.  —A.G.