For the 2011 vintage of the Estate Chardonnay, the winemaker Jeffrey Patterson decided to let the critics
speak about his wine. Antonio Galloni, formerly a critic of the Wine Advocate, now on his own
publication Vinous Media wrote: Mount Eden’s 2011 Chardonnay is simply magnificent. Intense and
tightly coiled from the very first taste, the 2011 pulsates with energy, texture, and pure class. Bright
citrus, lemon oil, flowers, and crushed rocks are all vivid in the glass, but it is the wine’s exceptional
balance that stands out most. The long, vibrant finish is a thing of beauty. In 2011, winemaker Jeffrey
Patterson did not make a Reserve, instead, all of the juice went into the straight Chardonnay. Readers
who want to understand why the Santa Cruz Mountains is one of the world’s great terroirs for
Chardonnay should start here. Quite simply, the 2011Chardonnay is a reference point for California.
Drink now through 2024.
95 pts Wine Spectator #11 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2014