The Mount Eden 2007 Chardonnay Reserve is a strikingly beautiful, textured wine endowed with layers of rich fruit. It comes across as surprisingly tight and mineral-driven. The purity and finesse here are simply dazzling. The Reserve is fermented and aged in barrel, then goes back into tank for another 10 months until all of the lees have been absorbed. It is a fabulous Chardonnay loaded with personality and sheer class. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2027. Mount Eden is a reference point winery, especially known for fine, ageworthy Chardonnays. I tasted a wide range of wines with Owner and Winemaker Jeffrey Patterson, one of the pioneers of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Mount Eden has a new, entry-level series called Domaine Eden, which is made partially from grapes sourced from a hillside property in Saratoga that once belonged to Cinnabar and that had originally been planted with Mount Eden clones. Ideally the Mount Eden wines need to be opened well in advance, as they can be a bit awkward when young. Tel (888) 865-9463; info@mounteden.com