2013 Estate Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
The product of yet another drought vintage, the 2013 Chardonnay Estate is one of the great, age-worthy examples of this wine from Mount Eden's modern era. The nose is layered and evolving, dominated by tropical and orchard fruits, popcorn kernels, biscuits and chamomile. The palate straddles a glossy polish and impressive attack, with a finish that is notably more study and upright than surrounding vintages. Despite the numerous negative ramifications of drought vintages, the remarkable tension and tenacity displayed in these Chardonnays is some silver lining, however small.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Aged for 10 months in French oak (70% new). Tense and lively with the impression of having lots buried deep in the wine – hidden depths. Really quite burgundian. Great subtle interplay on the palate. All tucked in. Embryonic. Subtle. So long on the finish. Really very smart. (JR)
The 2013 Chardonnay is especially ripe and voluptuous in this vintage because of the drought, almost unusually so. Yellow peach, candied orange peel and pineapple are front and center. The good news with the 2013 is that it will drink well early, but the bad news - if it can be called that - is that the wine is a bit on the overt side. Voluptuous, racy and oily, the 2013 will drink well with minimal cellaring. The 2013 finishes with a real sense of weight and textural richness that only adds to its considerable appeal.