Eden Rift
Under vine since 1849, Eden Rift is one of the oldest continually producing estate vineyards in California. In its pre 1940’s heyday, it was considered one of the five great American wine estates: restoring this unique part of American winemaking history to its halcyon days has been the endeavour of Christian Pillsbury since he took ownership in 2016. Christian is as delighted as we are with these latest 2019 releases, telling us: “We are always in search of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay’s elusive qualities, and so are thrilled and humbled to release our 2019 wines in the UK. We believe they are the finest wines we’ve released there to date, reflecting the Estate’s incredible terroir and upholding its primary voice. They have a distinctive elegance, tension and grace, achieving the length, texture and balance for which we strive”.
2019 Eden Rift Estate Chardonnay Cienega Valley
£163.97 In Bond £216.00 Inc VAT (£36.00 Per Bottle)-
Goedhuis, February 2023
Christian Pillsbury is incredibly proud of his 2019s, and deservedly so. Bright and lifted, the 2019 Estate Chardonnay offers layer upon layer of irresistible orchard fruit: crisp red apple, golden pear and quince complemented by fresh ginger and lemon. There’s a beautiful line of energy to this wine and a saline freshness backed up by perfectly judged oak, giving sumptuous spice and toasty, hazelnut complexities. Silky, cool and crystalline, and drinking so wonderfully. Drink 2023 -2027.
2019 Eden Rift Estate Pinot Noir Cienega Valley
£198.97 In Bond £258.00 Inc VAT (£43.00 Per Bottle)-
Goedhuis, February 2023
The Pinot Noirs from California’s Cienega Valley often carry beautiful rose petal and bergamot aromas, explains owner Christian Pillsbury. This is absolutely the case in Eden Rift’s exquisite 2019 Estate Pinot where these distinct flavours infuse the soft, sensual and wonderfully high-toned fruit of red cherry, cranberry, raspberry and blackberry. A third whole cluster vinification and 10 months ageing in 30% new French oak confers sumptuous spice and a supple texture to the mouth-watering juiciness. The fresh forest fruit finish is long, earthy, and mineral with delicate floral inflections. Perfectly pure, terroir-focused Pinot from one of California’s most exciting cool-climate regions. Drink 2023-2029.
-
Wine Enthusiast, May 2023, Score: 96
Winemaker Cory Waller is in epic stride at this property right now, and this bottling is solid case in point. It's light in the glass, with aromas of fresh and dried cherry, mild game and dusty chaparral on the elegant nose. The palate perfectly captures ripe fruit yet retains lovely and rustic layers of tar and baking spice. The compelling texture pushes it into the next league.
2019 Eden Rift Terraces Chardonnay Cienega Valley
£198.00 In Bond £256.84 Inc VAT (£42.80 Per Bottle)-
Goedhuis, July 2023
The Terraces come from a small single vineyard planted in 1998 sitting on soils rich in decomposed granite and limestone. Racing with energy, this 2019 is alive with bright fruit and fresh floral aromatics. The purity of fruit here is dazzling, with swirls of crisp lemon, grapefruit, white peach, and apricot all tinged with a salty, mineral edge. Toasted almonds and marmalade complexities add richness on the beautifully textured palate. Delightfully fresh thanks to a crystalline acidity, this has all the tension and precision you’d expect from California’s hugely successful 2019 vintage. Only 193 cases made. Drink 2023–2029.
-
Wine Enthusiast, July 2023, Score: 94
Clean lines of white melon, nectarine and lemon verbena make for a sharp, focused and unique nose on this bottling. Grapefruit zest enlivens the tip of the sip, as warmer pine nut, melon and honeysuckle flavors slide into a citrus-spiked popcorn finish.
2019 Eden Rift Terraces Pinot Noir Cienega Valley
£240.00 In Bond £307.24 Inc VAT (£51.20 Per Bottle)-
Goedhuis, July 2023
Just like the Lansdale, the Terraces is made from the special Calera clone of Pinot Noir that gives this 2019 its splashes of vivid blue fruits to match the varietal’s typical creamy strawberry, soft raspberry and crunchy pomegranate. Tightly coiled for now, the rich fruit is sumptuously spiced with cinnamon, clove and dried violets. Perfectly balanced, its sleek structure and impressive acidity makes it a happy addition to the cellar. Owner Christian Pillsbury is delighted with his 2019s and thinks they’re some of his best wines yet. We cannot wait to follow the 2019 over the next decade and longer. Only 18 barrels produced. Drink 2025-2035.
-
Wine Enthusiast, January 2023, Score: 93
Dark plum, elegant lavender and cola spice aromas meet with smoothly toasted oak on the nose of this bottling. The taut palate is both rich in supple mouthfeel and brisk in pomegranate and chai-spice flavors, which will align even better with patience. Drink now–2036.
2019 Eden Rift Lansdale Pinot Noir Cienega Valley
£285.00 In Bond £361.24 Inc VAT (£60.20 Per Bottle)-
Goedhuis, July 2023
The elevation of the Lansdale vineyard imparts a beautiful, cool-fruited freshness to this wine. Made exclusively with the Calera clone, which gives extremely low yielding, tiny clusters of very small berries, the higher skin-to-juice ratio offers richly spiced black fruit complexities that twinkle on the palate thanks to a bright acidity. Wisps of smoke and black tea mingle with fragrant floral undertones, lily of the valley and underbrush, and a minerality so typical of the terroir. Long, structured, spicy, and delicious. Put this in your cellar if you can resist the temptation to open now, it will only get better. Drink 2025-2035.
-
Wine Enthusiast, July 2023, Score: 96
From a block that gets barely a ton an acre, this 100% whole-cluster bottling begins with leathery aromas of blackberry and mace on the nose. The palate presents layer after layer of flavor, texture and sensation, offering plum, berry, wood smoke, roasted meat and elegant purple-flower flavors. The oak spice is expertly interwoven.
