Mount Eden Estate Pinot Noir 2018
(Santa Cruz Mountains, California) - [JD 95+] [VM 95] [DM 94] [WE 93]

Notes from the Winemaker:
All of our estate vineyards are dry-farmed, and because of this we diligently track precipitation. A mere fourteen inches of rain fell during a nail biting "rainy" season, forcing us to severely reduce output on our Pinot Noir vines due to drought-stress.

Our Pinot Noir is a natural wine reflecting the place and the vintage. The crop may have been small, but the concentration and depth correspondingly increased. Classic blackberry/raspberry aromas greet you along with a deep ruby color. On the palate, great balance and acid/tannin tension continue. Despite the considerable concentration of red fruit, the all-important element of freshness is in abundance.

The 2018 harvest started in early September under perfect ripening conditions. Included in the fermentations were 35% whole-cluster to add complexity and vibrancy. There are no "additions" to our winemaking; we employ indigenous yeast during fermentation. When we bottle, there is no fining or filtration, creating a Natural Wine in every aspect.

Appropriate dark ruby color, with amazing fresh soft red fruit aromas and a hint of cardamom, this Pinot is rich and balanced on the palate featuring cocoa, blackberry, oak, and a killer depth of flavor.

As always, a candidate for the cellar.

Total Production: 994 cases

95+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Crushed stone, lit gunpowder, peppery herbs, sassafras, violets, and assorted red and black fruits all emerge from the 2018 Pinot Noir Estate, a brilliant release from this estate that's medium-bodied, has bright yet integrated acidity, beautiful balance, and a great, great finish. It's young and unevolved (yet it's already complex) and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, but this is a gorgeous California Pinot Noir on every level. It's going to drink well for over two decades. Drinking Window: 2022-2042." -Jeb Dunnuck (Dec 2021)

95 Points - Vinous:
"The 2018 Pinot Noir is gorgeous. Deep and super-expressive, the 2018 has so much to say. Hints of dried herbs, blood orange, rose petal, cinnamon and star anise complement a core of red cherry/plum fruit nicely. This stylish, elegant Pinot has a ton to offer. But it also needs time, as the stem component is a bit pronounced in the early going. Drinking Window: 2024-2036." -Antonio Galloni (May 2022)

94 Points - Decanter:
"Lean and restrained, this gorgeous Pinot Noir is both iconic and historic; built on partial, whole cluster, and native yeast fermentations, the aromas are both earthy and floral. Juicy textures reveal expressive red fruit framed by a medium body, bright acidity, and silky textures. Unfined and unfiltered. Drinking Window: 2022-2032." -Stacy Slinkard (Oct 2022)

93 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Black-plum, incense, black-cherry and root-beer aromas show on the nose of this bottling from a regional standard bearer. Sandalwood and mahogany flavors make for a woody palate, where the dark-plum and purple-flower flavors cling to a firm tension." -Matt Kettmann (Dec 2021)