Om Flasken
2014 var et tørkeramt år, og høstudbyttet blev derfor mindre end vanligt i Santa Cruz Mountains. Under sådanne forhold kom de gamle vinstokke dog i høj grad til deres ret, og de druer, der 'klarede mosten' har lagt grunden for en af Mount Eden Estates måske største årgange til dato.
De 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc og 2% Petit Verdot er således høstet fra egne marker og er i vinhuset gæret hver for sig på det naturlige gær, inden de sammen har lagret 22 måneders i en blanding af franske (40% nye) og amerikanske (3 år gamle) egetræsfade. Vinen er ikke filtreret før aftapning.
Farven er mørk rubinfarvet og intens, mens aromaen skriger Cabernet Sauvignon på den helt rette måde: Solbær, blommer, jord, krydderier, grafit, kamfer og skovbund er der alt sammen, og dette uden at blive overskygget af de beskedne lag mokka og chokolade. I smagen går tankerne dermed snarere mod rigtig stor Pauillac med kraftige men helt finkornede tanniner, stor og harmonisk krop samt en fremragende, energisk frugtsyre, der fører et væld af nuancer videre i den lange, saftige og komplekse eftersmag.
Dette er vin bygget til den helt lange bane, der nemt kører 30 år ind i fremtiden. Mount Eden Estate Cabernet er dermed et helt fantastisk match til f.eks. grillet lam, stegt kalvekød eller vildt. I den anledning anbefaler vi dekantering en til to time før servering ved 15-17 grader.
96 point - Decanter
"One of California’s original boutique wineries, Mount Eden Vineyards was founded in 1945 by Paul Masson and Martin Ray. Winemaker Jeffrey Patterson has led this low- yielding estate since 1981, attributing its success to wine-growing, rather than winemaking. Surprisingly the heritage of the winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon vines can be traced back to the 1890s, when viticulturist Emmett Rixford obtained cuttings from Château Margaux in Bordeaux. Stephen Brook: Black fruits nose, with discreet new oak. Surprisingly approachable with a ripe fruit mid-palate. Vibrant, deft and fruity style. Alex Hunt MW: The palate has just the right ratio of gloss to structure; a firm core beautifully fleshed out by fruit. Impeccable harmony here. Stefan Neumann MS: Delicate, earthy aromas lead to a compact core with ripe fruit. Great potential, with great acid to back up the power. (Tasted by Panel)"
95 point - Vinous
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Racy and linear in the glass, the 2014 is superb from start to finish. The 2014 is remarkably fresh considering the brutal drought conditions of the year. Bright floral notes, red-toned fruit and fine yet insistent tannins are some of the signatures in this super-expressive Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet. Vivid and chiseled in style, the 2014 will drink well for several decades.
94 point - Robert Parker/The Wine Advocate
""This has unusual, kind of soft tannins that are not typical of this wine," Jeffrey Patterson says. "It was an unusual vintage, and tannin structure is not at all hard." The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is made up of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep ruby, it has a seductive, layered nose of licorice, loamy soil, warm redcurrant, black cherries, woodsmoke, pencil shavings, dried herbs, cedar and dried flowers with cocoa powder hints. It's medium-bodied and intense in the mouth with layers of ripe fruits, spices and savory notions, framed by soft, grainy tannins and juicy freshness and finishing very long and savory. 1,092 cases produced."