Tasting Notes

Release Date: Spring 1997

The Central Coast area had a memorable year in 1995. Prior to harvest, growers were suggesting that the crop might be a bit short, and we winemakers were preparing for a small dip in yield.  What we got was a canyon.  Harvest total were down fifty percent from Andy MacGregor's mature vines.  Our loss is your gain, for the small crop yielded immense flavors and textures in the wine. As is typical of small harvests (i.e. 1988) concentration of flavor becomes epic.

Full-throttle flavors of quince, grapefruit, and guava, which are typical of the vineyard, are a measure up with this vintage.  Totally barrel fermented in our mountain cave, this Chardonnay was aged in French oak for ten months.  Our finest effort since the exceptional 1992.

Production

3,825

Tech Notes

Sorry, technical notes are not available for this vintage.

Reviews

89 points Wine Spectator - June 1997

Offers interesting, earth-accented flavors of pear and pineapple, turning smooth and silky on the finish. Ready now and into 1998.

88 points Robert Parker Jr's The Wine Advocate - April 1997

Issue # 110

The Mount Eden 1995 Chardonnay MacGregor Vineyard’s unusually evolved medium gold color is striking. The nose offers up copious quantities of tropical fruit intermixed with gobs of smoky, spicy oak. Good acidity, as well as abundant fruit and glycerin has resulted in a tantalizing mouthful of Chardonnay. Drink it over the next year.