2008 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay Santa Cruz

2008 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay

95pts(WS) Yet another in a line of great Chardonnays from this producer. Very rich and intense, deeply concentrated and perfumed, delivering detailed flavors of white peach, honeysuckle, fig and citrus. Full-bodied, sleek and leesy, with a long lingering finish. Drink now through 2018. 1,717 cases made. –James Laube Wine Spectator June 30, 2011

95pts(WA) The Mount Eden 2008 Chardonnay Estate is made from the estate’s best barrels, with the aim of producing a wine that can age 20 years. That shouldn’t be a problem for the 2008. It reveals gorgeous scents of citrus, crushed rocks and smoke, all of which come together nicely in the glass. The 2008 remains a tightly wound, subtle and finessed wine that needs another few years in the cellar, but it is striking even today. This is all finesse and elegance. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2028.  Antonio Galloni Robert Parker's Wine Advocate No 196

The full bodied Estate Chardonnay displays fine underlying acidity and a long finish. Hints of cardamom, anise and hazelnut add interest to the core lemon, mineral flavors. Of all Mount Eden’s estate-grown wines, the Chardonnay is most in need of further bottle aging at release, requiring an additional two to four years to fully reveal its true character. Many vintages are still fresh and enjoyable after fifteen years, explaining why Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay is considered one of California’s longest-lived white wines. longest-lived white wines. Winery Notes