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  • Country ranking ?

    552
  • Producer ranking ?

    33
  • Decanting time

    -
  • When to drink

    Now

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The Story

Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classicly balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy.

In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the french food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history.

The Napa Valley Chardonnay is made of 100% Chardonnay grapes and was aged in 100% French oak barrels for 10 months. Emblematic to the style of the estate, it offers concentrated floral, green apple aromas and a refreshing and persistent impression on the palate.

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Latest Pro-tasting notes

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Written Notes

The spring of 2008 was unpredicatable, with many cold nights bringing damaging frosts to much of the north coast growing region. Fortunately, the majority of the Chardonnay vineyards escaped damage, leaving only a slightly below average crop size this year. The balance of the growing season was mostly typical, with the normal July heat-spike and then another round of heat in late-August, just in time to push the Chardonnay to full ripeness before the September harvest.
 
Brilliantly clear with a beautiful golden-straw color, this Chardonnay invites you in with tempting aromas of pear tart, tropical passion fruit and lychee, along with wet gravel and a subtle oak spiciness. The palate opens round and fleshy with flavors of juicy peach and mouthwatering, big, citrus notes of pink grapefruit and honey tangerine. The mid-palate is layered with green apple and an understated, nutty, oak tone which segues into an interesting long and spicy finish. Big structure and great weight throughout complement the numerous layers of flavors to complete the package on this classic, Montelena Chardonnay.

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Information

Origin

Calistoga, Napa Valley
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