{"product_id":"mount-eden-wolff-vineyard-old-vines-chardonnay-2023-edna-valley-california","title":"Mount Eden Wolff Vineyard Old Vines Chardonnay 2023 (Edna Valley, California)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Winery:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLocated in the mountains above Saratoga. Mount Eden Vineyards was founded in 1945, although its history goes back much further: Native Burgundian Paul Masson arrived in California in 1878, established a winery, planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with cuttings obtained from his Burgundian pal Louis Latour, and pioneered the production of sparkling wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But then came prohibition to ruin it all. Then came the legend Martin Ray in 1943 to buy Masson's wine company and plant those cuttings in what is now the Mount Eden Estate, sitting 2,000 feet overlooking Saratoga and the entire Bay Area. He also planted Cabernet Sauvignon with cuttings from Chateau Margaux.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, the Mount Eden wines show the same amazing qualities found in many of the 1er and Grand Crus of Burgundy; minerality, complexity, ripe orchard fruit, but restrained use of new oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJean-Pierre Wolff farms 55 acres of Chardonnay vines in the bucolic Edna Valley, outside the town of San Luis Obispo. Originally planted in 1976 by Edna Valley wine pioneer Andy Macgregor (Wolff purchased the property from Macgregor in 1999), the vineyard is the oldest in the Edna Valley. Mount Eden has made Chardonnay from this vineyard since 1985. These mature vines typically yield two to four tons per acre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNotes from the Winemaker:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLike everywhere in California, Edna Valley went through a drought in 2021. From some of the oldest vines in the valley, the yields were extremely low. The grapes were harvested in midOctober, the last major Chardonnay region to be harvested in California.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVery nuanced aromas of honeysuckle, citrus, freshly baked bread, and rose petals. High in acidity, the flavors are very soil-driven with a solid core of citrus. Barrel fermented and aged 9 months in older French oak giving the wine a beautiful texture and finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Sourced from one of the estate’s original vineyards, a 55-acre site in the Edna Valley planted in 1976, the 2022 Chardonnay Single Vineyard enjoys sizable influence from the Pacific Ocean and a long growing season. Barrel-fermented and undergoing full malolactic fermentation, it was aged in mostly neutral barrels and allowed to sit on the lees for 11 months. Mount Eden has made this wine since 1985, offering a textured expression of citrus and baked bread that is deliciously affordable and different from its main core. Drink now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMount Eden is one of the most historic and storied names in the Santa Cruz Mountains, founded in 1945 at 2,000-feet elevation. Longtime owner\/winemaker Jeffrey Patterson came to work as the assistant winemaker here in 1981. In 2007, he bought the old 55-acre Cinnabar Winery for Domaine Eden, a sister brand. Patterson describes the Santa Cruz Mountains as “a vertical place,” its Chaine d’Or stretching from Thomas Fogarty on its northern end south to Rhys, Ridge, Mount Eden, and Domaine Eden. Patterson and his family acquired the majority of the winery in 2008, and the second generation remains involved. Austin Chin has been assistant winemaker since 2018. (Drink starting 2025)\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92 Points - Decanter:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This is an outlier from one of the founding brands in the Santa Cruz Mountains; they've been working with Chardonnay from this site since the 1980s.. Sourced from the oldest Chardonnay vines in the Edna Valley, at 45 years, it's a warmer climate Chardonnay and a showy one at that. An opulent nose with great balance, nutmeg, poached pear aromatics, nutmeg, tropical flavours, guava, pineapple, (Drink between 2025-2030)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e91 Points - Wine Spectator:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis white is bursting with citrus, with notes of tangerine, lemon and lime zest, plus floral details of orange blossoms and honeysuckle. A firm hint of toasted brioche and thread of crushed rock minerality leave an impression. 1,162 cases made.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e91 Points - Vinous Media:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only non-estate wine in the Mount Eden portfolio, the 2022 Chardonnay Wolff Vineyard comes from old vines in this Edna Valley site. Steely and vibrant, it opens with a vivid, rounded profile of sweet pear, peach, white flowers, salted lemon and mineral tension. Pliant and generous, the texture has a lovely suppleness, and a sweet note on the finish reminds me of Halloween candy corn. This will surely be a crowd-pleaser, representing a solid value play with excellent winemaking.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"MOUNT EDEN VINEYARDS","offers":[{"title":"750 mL","offer_id":53294196752749,"sku":null,"price":22.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/products\/h33shjv6zpyyzlmkgclm.jpg?v=1773173588","url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/products\/mount-eden-wolff-vineyard-old-vines-chardonnay-2023-edna-valley-california","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}