From: Santa Cruz, California
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec
Critical Acclaim
V 94 Vinous
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. A rush of floral and spice notes leads into a core of racy purplish fruit. Lavender, sage, mint and a whole range of savory Cabernet aromatics play off the natural richness of the year so well. The 2017 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Domaine Eden plus non-estate vineyards in Los Gatos and Saratoga, along with Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Mount Eden. That blend works so well. I loved it for its power and density. More importantly, the 2017 is a huge overachiever and a screaming value.
JD 91 Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of Bordeaux-like black herbs, scorched earth, lead pencil, and graphite, as well as ripe black cherry and mulberry fruits, emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, a medium-bodied, fresh, focused, nicely concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon from the Santa Cruz Mountains. It needs a good decant if drinking any time soon, but it’s balanced, pure, and can evolve for 15+ years if stored correctly. It's beautifully done. Best After 2022
WS 91 Wine Spectator
Zesty, with loganberry and boysenberry fruit notes showing good energy from the get-go, while anise, floral and mesquite notes fill in throughout. Sleek and fresh in feel, with the fruit showing a finishing kick on the mineral-tinged finish. Drink now.
Taste: The 2017 vintage has a complex character, flaunting aromas of briary currant, sage, mint, sweet oak, and mahogany wood. The velvety, full body gives way to ripened dark fruit and graphite minerality on the finish. The palate offers balanced tannins and acidity, allowing for an approachable drinking experience. It has been awarded 94 points by Vinous, praising it for its power, density, and value. In addition, Wine Enthusiast and Jeb Dunnuck gave it 93 and 91 points, respectively, highlighting its structure, balance, purity, and concentration. This vintage can easily be held for 10-15 years to enjoy later in the coming decade.
Pairing: The robust tannins in Cabernet intertwine seamlessly with the succulent fats in red meat-based dishes. However, its versatility extends beyond red meat, making it an excellent companion to poultry dishes, such as a simple, herb-infused roasted chicken accompanied by potatoes. When considering more casual yet flavorful pairings, a lamb burger would be perfect, amplifying the richness inherent in both. Those preferring vegetarian options can enjoy dishes like mushroom risotto or a sumptuous veggie burger, where the wine’s boldness complements the substantial nature of these vegetarian creations. Suitably, a plethora of vegetarian dishes such as vegan enchiladas, vegetarian chili, baked potatoes, ratatouille tart, and eggplant parmesan further demonstrate the adaptability of this distinguished vintage.
About. Sitting above Silicon Valley, high up within the Santa Cruz Mountains, is the historic wine estate of Domaine Eden, famed for its exceptional and varied wine collections. This extraordinary estate is the offshoot of Mount Eden Vineyards, a boutique winery founded in 1945, known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Purchased in 2007, Domaine Eden was once the former home of Cinnabar Winery and was built and initially planted by Tom Mudd in 1983. Here, the clonal selections of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Eden were first cultivated, later expanding to include Pinot Noir. As the name suggests, Domaine Eden was inspired by and modeled after Mount Eden, focusing on Bordeaux varieties from the greater expanse of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Mount Eden Vineyards, the elder sibling, towers 2000 feet above Silicon Valley, producing wines that clearly express the mountain’s stark, infertile Franciscan shale grounds and its cool, exposed location. These challenging conditions yield unrivaled complexity and longevity wines, with Domaine Eden continuing the lineage and carrying forward the tradition of estate-bottled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the longest in California.
Since 1981, Jeffrey Patterson has steered the viticulture and enology at Mount Eden, emphasizing the importance of wine growing over winemaking, with a keen focus on the gentleness and naturalness in handling the grapes and wines. A Berkeley biology graduate, he found his calling in the Bay Area's blossoming culinary and wine scene in the 1970s. Eventually enrolling at UC Davis for enology and viticulture classes, Jeffrey eventually landed as an assistant winemaker at Mount Eden. Along with his wife, Ellie, he was entrusted with Mount Eden's winemaking and business facets in 1983.
The 2017 Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon blends the top five Bordeaux grape varieties, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Eden and Domaine Eden and other eminent sites in Saratoga and Los Gatos. Each lot is fermented separately utilizing natural fermentations and aged in French oak for two years, without fining or filtration, mirroring the Estate regimen. The final blend for the 2017 vintage features 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. It combines the traditional Bordeaux grapes sourced from immaculate local vineyards and supervised by the adept team at Mount Eden.