Chateau Montelena
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
Napa Valley
Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically 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.
Vineyard
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay is cultivated on gravelly soils in the Oak Knoll District at the base of Mt. Veeder. This southern Napa Valley appellation is ideal for farming Montelena Chardonnay given its proximity to the San Pablo Bay and thus cooler climate. Ample morning fog moderates daytime temperatures while cool nights preserve the wine’s vibrant acidity.
Vintage
Began with a chilly, early start to the growing season and a generous crop. The remaining fruit exhibited ripe characteristics, adding greater complexity to the finished wine.
Tasting Note
Intense purity opens with peach, apricot & kiwi, cascading to floral orange blossom & cantaloupe. The texture is angular with notes of lemon & green apple. Finishing notes of d ’Anjou pear & baking spice, that transition back to apple, lemon & ginger.
Color
White
Blend %
100% Chardonnay
Appellation
Napa Valley
Alcohol
13.8%
Reviews
More on Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
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Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Potter Valley Riesling
Mendocino, California
Riesling is a hidden gem within the Chateau Montelena portfolio. Many people don’t know it exists, and once they do – they keep coming back for more. Stylistically, it is amazingly refreshing with notes of lemon blossom, honeysuckle and rose petal that are balanced by lively acidity.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California
The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon embodies the balance of Montelena, classic “old-world” structure with ripe California fruit. It is crafted from fruit coming from the Montelena vineyard and several prime neighboring vineyards, all in the Calistoga AVA. The Montelena Napa Cabernet is a wine that delivers immediate pleasure upon release, but in Montelena style, while age and develop beautifully.
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is Chateau Montelena’s flagship wine and a quality icon of Napa Valley. The winemaking team works obsessively and passionately with each vintage to capture the best expression of their historic terroir. This is a show-stopper that reveals the perfect blend of flavors, aromas and textures to reach the pinnacle of balance.
Zinfandel
Napa Valley, California
Produced from grapes grown on the Montelena Estate vineyard, the Zinfandel is a classically-structured, subtle and refined wine. More than anything, it hearkens back to the way that Zinfandel was made in the 1960s and 1970s, with completely distinctive, rich and spicy California berry fruit, but a balance that made them no heavier than their Cabernet counterparts.
