Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate 2016

Mount Eden remains one of the most steadfastly traditional estates in California, perched 2,000 feet above the Silicon Valley floor. While much of the state was chasing ripeness and high-octane oak in the 2010s, Jeffrey Patterson continued to produce wines of restraint, tension, and staggering longevity. The 2016 Estate Pinot Noir is a soulful reminder of why this site—originally planted by Martin Ray in 1945 with cuttings from Paul Masson—is considered holy ground for Burgundian varieties in the New World.

The 2016 vintage offers a departure from the muscular reputation of some years, leaning instead into an ethereal and musical profile. It possesses the transparency and mineral shale soul that brings to mind a great Gevrey-Chambertin, yet it stays true to its Santa Cruz roots. While it is drinking beautifully now with a decant, this is a vintage built for the long haul; it will continue to evolve and gain volume in the cellar over the next decade.