2019 Mount Eden Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
More intense than the 2018, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon blends 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot into an elegantly medium-bodied mountain expression of rounded tannins, crunchy red fruit, and notes of iron and smoked meat. From the estate's 1,600-foot elevation, it shows plenty of structure and tannin power without being heavy, though it will benefit greatly, as these wines always do, from decanting and/or aging another 10-20 years. Mount Eden is one of the most historic and storied names in the Santa Cruz Mountains, founded in 1945 at 2,000-feet elevation. Longtime owner/winemaker Jeffrey Patterson came to work as the assistant winemaker here in 1981. In 2007, he bought the old 55-acre Cinnabar Winery for Domaine Eden, a sister brand. Patterson describes the Santa Cruz Mountains as “a vertical place,” its Chaine d’Or stretching from Thomas Fogarty on its northern end south to Rhys, Ridge, Mount Eden, and Domaine Eden. Patterson and his family acquired the majority of the winery in 2008, and the second generation remains involved. Austin Chin has been assistant winemaker since 2018.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a fresh, vibrant showing of this historically consistent and always elegant wine. The nose opens with refined aromas of loganberry, clay dust, roses, redwood and oiled leather. The palate is svelte, plush and lifted with youthful yet accessible tannins and a pleasing, high-toned finish. This wine always benefits substantially from cellaring until the 10-year mark and should provide a wonderful drinking experience for two decades beyond that.
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is everything this wine should be and can be. Floral, deep and yet also light on its feet, the 2019 is a model of total elegance. Crushed flowers, herbs, menthol, rose petal and sweet pipe tobacco run through a core of red-toned Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. The 2019 is perhaps not quite as explosive as the best wines in this range, but it does possess magnificent finesse and tons of personality. Don't miss it.