2007 Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon

2007 Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon

98pts (W&S) Open every stop on your cabernet church organ: Pure cassis. Mountain freshness. Baking spice. The pencil lead of Graves in that less-than-overripe varietal character. This is unadulterated cabernet pleasure, three words that have never come together in my mind before. Grown at an elevation of 1,800 feet, 14 miles from the coast, this vineyard traces its heritage back to Chateau Margaux, where Emmett Rixford selected cuttings for La Questa in the 1890s. Martin Ray propagated cuttings from those vines to plant Mount Eden in the 1940s, replanted in the 1980s with a selection from Ray's vines. Between the cool site, the exceptional vintage and the pedigree of the vines, this is a true California classic.  Wine & Spirits Magazine December 2011

93 points Bright ruby.  Seductive aromas of red- and blackcurrant, singed plum, mocha and minerals, with a smoky overtone.  Sappy and smooth in the mouth, with a compelling sweetness to its layered dark berry and cherry flavors.  Deep but very energetic, with Pauillac-like iron and tobacco notes and building floral character. The finish is gently tannic, sweet and extremely long.  There's 14% merlot and 1.5% each of cabernet franc and petit verdot in here.  Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11

91pts(WA)The Mount Eden 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate possesses a solid core of dark red fruit supported by firm yet well-integrated tannins. It is a typical mountain vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that needs time in the bottle to come together. The finish is sweet and inviting. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14 % Merlot and 1.5% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.  Antonio Galloni Robert Parker's Wine ADvocate No 196 August 2011