Tasting Notes

Release Date:  Fall 1996

A 1994 vintage does not come around very often in a vintner's career. A late year, the incredible autumn weather ripened the crop painstakingly slow, keeping the natural acidity up and developing amazing complexity in the grapes. Early tastings of the new wine confirmed that we had something special in the barrel.

Vibrant, youthful, and ruby in color, this wine has aromas which open slowly, revealing seductive fraise des bois and toasty new oak. But what this vintage really offers is an extra dimension in the mid-palate of sweet, soft red fruit combined with an energetic finish which lasts for minutes.

This possibly is the finest Pinot I have made in my sixteen vintages at Mount Eden.

Production

402

Tech Notes

Sorry, technical notes not available for this vintage.

Reviews

90 points Wine Spectator - February 1997

Remarkably complex, with a ripe core of currant, coffee, wild berry and cedar flavors. Young and tight, with a pleasant earthy edge and hints of fruit. Grows on you. Drinks well now, but put a bottle or two aside for future drinking.

87 points Robert Parker Jr's The Wine Advocate - October 1996

Issue# 107

The medium ruby-colored 1994 Pinot Noir Estate is already revealing some lightening at the edge. It offers an attractive, earthy, smoky, berry-scented nose, medium body, good depth, and a spicy, tannic finish. The wine should improve for 1-2 years; it is best consumed over the next 7-8 years.