Eden Rift - Estate Chardonnay2018
WHITE WINE
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Producer
Eden Rift
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Blend
100% Chardonnay
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Country
USA
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Region
California
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UPC
8 50003 38830 4
Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck 94
The 2018 Chardonnay Estate sports a medium gold hue to go with a gorgeous nose of white peach, stone fruits, honeysuckle, and toasted bread. Beautifully balanced, elegant, and with plenty of sweet fruit and great acidity, this is a killer Chardonnay I'd be thrilled to drink.
by JD, Jeb Dunnuck , 2021
James Suckling 95
This just takes off at the finish, with bright, tangy acidity and plenty of minerality. Full-bodied and so tangy and energetic. Fantastic chardonnay. Hints of aniseed and flint. Grows in the glass. Delicious now, but will age beautifully.
by JS, James Suckling , 2022
Wine Enthusiast 91
Salty lemon- and orange-peel aromas meet with grippy chalk and the hint of stuck match on the nose of this bottling. There is a stony quality to the sip, where lime-pith and seared orange-slice flavors arise.
by MK, Wine Enthusiast , 2020
Wine Advocate 91
The 2018 Chardonnay Estate has inviting aromas of spiced apples, toast and dried flowers with a honeyed undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, bright, textural and nutty with a long, mineral-laced finish.
by EB, Wine Advocate , 2021
Technical Details
Estate
Under Vine Since 1849 – Eden Rift is the oldest continuously producing estate vineyard in California. Located just 20 miles from the Monterey Bay, the 120-acre estate rests on the San Andreas Faultline and is part of the Cienega Valley AVA. Early vintners saw potential in the limestone and dolomite-rich soil, planting Pinot Noir on the estate in 1860. Post prohibition, the focus on Pinot Noir & Chardonnay was lost until 2016 when Christian Pillsbury acquired the estate. Christian assembled a team of young industry professionals starting with winemaker Cory Waller to once again create some of California’s most vivid energetic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The extreme terraces and diverse terroir in a single contiguous valley make California’s oldest estate vineyard one of its most exciting new projects.
Tasting notes
The Estate Chardonnay shows great focus, epitomizing nature of the Eden Rift Estate. It is bright with notes of exotic citrus as well as Bosc pear, lemon zest, orange cream, white flowers and mineral notes. On the palate, it is richly textured yet replete with acidity.
Vinification
Chardonnay grapes from three blocks were hand-harvested over four separate days in September and early October. At the winery, the Chardonnay was whole-cluster pressed with the resulting juice transferred to a holding tank for cold-settling. Following 24 hours of settling the juice was racked to French oak barrels (18% new) for fermentation which occurred on native yeasts. Ultimately, the wine completed both primary and secondary fermentation in barrel, where it also aged “sur-lie” with battonage occurring every week through Spring. Following 10 months of aging, the wine was bottled in late August.
