Tasting Notes

Release Date: Spring 2016

When this wine in was created in 1999 (then called “Saratoga Cuvee”) it was to introduce the essence of our home, the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mount Eden’s Estate Cabernet was already firmly established among the iconic Cabernets of California, yet we felt wine lovers needed to know more about the beautiful region we live in and the Cabernets produced there. Thus this wine was born.

2012 was a great year for Cabernet Sauvignon in California. Although a drought year, amazingly the vines did not suffer. The harvest was late and under perfect “Indian Summer” conditions. This allowed full ripeness at a slow pace. As always, the vintage is a composite of five vineyards, all within Saratoga and Los Gatos in the mid-section of the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. Mount Eden either grows or carefully supervises all of the vineyards that blend into this wine.

The winemaking is traditional, which is Mount Eden and Domaine Eden’s signature.   Beautiful aromas of black currant, graphite and cedar wood dominate the nose. A full-bodied palate with black fruit and earth flavors, along with structure that is typical of mountain cabernets.

 

Production

2,624

Tech Notes

Yield: 2.5 tons per acre

Harvest: September 28th-October 26th

Numbers @ Harvest: 23.2° Brix, 3.40 pH, 6.6 grams acidity

Cepage: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec

Barrel Regimen: French 50%- 10 % new; American 50%- 10% new; aged 24 months in barrel

Bottling: October 2014; no fining or filtration

Alcohol: 14%

Reviews

93 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine - December 2016

Editor’s Choice

This Cab shows intensely pure blueberry fruit alongside cocoa, sandalwood, dried scarlet rosebuds, leather and pencil shavings on the nose. Very savory on the palate with restrained fruit, this offers crushed oregano, marjoram, thyme, black pepper, sea salt, soy and miso flavors. It’s pleasantly approachable and enjoyable now.—M.K.

92 points Antonio Galloni presents Vinous  - July 2015

Domaine Eden’s Cabernet Sauvignon remains one of the real undiscovered gems in California. Plump, juicy and exuberant, the 2012 offers gorgeous breath and intensity throughout. Red-fleshed fruit, sweet spices, mocha and flowers are all pushed forward. The interplay of expressive, pliant fruit and classic structure is compelling. Readers can look forward to another decade or so of fine drinking. Drink 2017-2028

91 points View From the Cellar by John Gilman - July / August 2016

Issue #64

The 2012 vintage of Domaine Eden cabernet sauvignon is a touch riper than the ’07, but still an even fourteen percent octane and utterly classical in aromatic and flavor profile. The beautiful bouquet wafts from the glass in a sophisticated blend of black cherries, a touch of mint, lovely soil tones, Cuban cigars, gentle spice tones and a very refined base of new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nicely plush on the attack, with a fine core, impeccable focus and balance, modest, fine-grained tannins and lovely length and grip on the nascently complex and classy finish. This is quite approachable out of the blocks, but is also nicely balanced to age very gracefully and should provide quite a long window of peak drinkability. 2016-2035+.

90 points Robert Parker Jr's The Wine Advocate - October 2016

Issue #227

Offering plenty of red fruits, toasted spice and underbrush aromas and flavors, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is medium-bodied, supple, nicely polished and balanced, with chewy tannin and tons of charm. It shows classic Santa Cruz Mountain character and will drink nicely for 7-8. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, all of which spent 22 months in equal parts French and American oak.