It’s been two decades since the property now called Domaine Eden was open to the public in any capacity.
The site of the original Cinnabar winery and estate vineyard property, established by Tom Mudd, went on the market in 2004 and sat until 2007, when it was purchased by Jeffrey and Ellie Patterson of Mount Eden Vineyards. They called it Domaine Eden. Less than two miles from their world-famous Mount Eden vineyard, originally planted by Martin Ray, the soils and views could not be more different.
Mount Eden faces southeast and is mostly above the fog line. “The soils are rocky and poor,” says Mount Eden winemaker Jeffrey Patterson. “At Domaine Eden, the vineyards are north facing, so it is cooler and the soil is like potting mix—dark and loose—with no rocks. It is night and day different.”
Now wine lovers can experience Domaine Eden for themselves, and taste wines from both properties. Starting Saturday, May 11, Domaine Eden opened to the public by reservation only for weekend wine tasting on the outdoor patio.
A variety of curated flights, glasses and bottles from both Domaine Eden and Mount Eden Vineyards are available. Seatings are Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., through November. Reservations are required and picnicking is encouraged, as there is currently no food available for purchase at the Domaine Eden tasting room.
Be advised that the tasting room is at the end of an unpaved road that is shared with hikers enjoying the bordering Sanborn Park.
Jeffrey and Ellie Patterson’s son Reid is now the GM of Domaine Eden, where he is planting 3 acres of new chardonnay vines using budwood sourced from Mount Eden. He also manages wine production at both vineyards, so he’s well-versed in their different personalities.
“You see the forest full of oaks and round shrubs at Mount Eden, while Domaine Eden is conifers and redwoods,” he says. “Water is plentiful here, while scarce at Mount Eden.
“The soil at Mount Eden is rocky, and the vines go deep,” Reid adds. “This results in a more savory, restrained wine—one that is not driven by fruit. Vines at Domaine Eden have an easier life: there’s more water, and the soil is richer. There is more fruit, which means more youthful enjoyability.”
The original Cinnabar Vineyard was planted to chardonnay, pinot noir and Bordeaux varieties by vineyardists Ron Mosley and Alejandro Aldama, starting in 1989. At the time, the winemaker was George Troquato, whose preferences drove much of the planting decisions.
After Mudd’s untimely passing, his family sold the Cinnabar tasting room and brand name to Mosley, who moved the operation to Gilroy. Aldama is now the winemaker for Cinnabar, and Troquato now makes wine for Alamitos Vineyard on San Jose’s Almaden Reservoir.
Between 6,000 and 8,000 cases are made yearly under the Domaine Eden label, which is often double that of Mount Eden’s production. Today, all the red wine for both labels is made at Domaine Eden and all the chardonnay is made at Mount Eden.
“It has to do with how the cellars are set up,” says Reid. “The tank room at Domaine is much better for processing reds.
“The 2021 Domaine Eden wines are clean and fruity and smooth, and I am looking forward to sharing them with the public,” Reid adds. “The 2021 Mount Eden vintage is really too young and not as pleasurable for the common drinker. I would say that Mount Eden wines are centered around age-ability and cellar worthiness, whereas Domaine Eden wines are meant to be enjoyed now.”
The Domaine Eden chardonnay currently contains fruit from both estate vineyards, while the pinot noir for the two programs is strictly site-specific. The cabernets from Domaine Eden are juiced up with fruit from two vineyards in Los Gatos, one owned by Frank Dorsa and the other by Joe Kennedy.
“The Domaine Eden cabernet sauvignon is unique in that it is a pan-appellation blend of fruit from Saratoga and Los Gatos,” says Jeffrey Patterson. “It’s very black-fruited, and you can taste the iron in the soil, but the wine does not spend as much time in oak as the Mount Eden cabernet sauvignon.”
The price difference between the two is tied directly to the perception of age-worthiness. The 2019 Domaine Eden cabernet is $50, and the 2019 Mount Eden cab is $110. Similarly, the 2021 Domaine Eden chardonnay is $35, and the Mount Eden is $70.
“I want visitors to recognize the quality-to-price ratio of Domaine Eden wines,” says Reid Patterson. “The value is there.”
He’s also surprised that so many people still have a skewed idea of what—and where—wine country is. “You don’t have to go to Sonoma or Napa,” says Reid. “We have high-quality wine in our backyard.”
Domaine Eden is located at 23000 Congress Springs Road in Saratoga. Reserve a tasting at https://www.exploretock.com/domaineeden.
