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Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2012
Chateau Montelena is one of California's historic wineries and consistent producer of some of the best Chardonnay in Napa Valley. Discover why Chateau Montelena Chardonnay beat the French at the Paris tasting in 1976! previous vintage 93 Points Robert Parker: "The Chardonnay appears to have more richness and body than the 2010, which is counterintuitive considering the cool year, but in 2011 Bo Barrett and his team had to wait until the end of October for this fruit to fully ripen, which, needless to say, is highly unusual. The characteristic Montelena Chardonnay aromas and flavors come through, but in a slightly richer style than normal. Hints of lemon oil, crushed rocks and flowers meld together beautifully on the resonant finish. Barrett adds that the 2011 was the first wine made in the new cellar, which is set up to handle small-lot fermentations. Whatever the reasons, the 2011 is striking in every way. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025."
Ratings on Delectable
Austin Hohnke 
Such a classy bitch. Stylish, refined, and youthful. Drinking so well right now with a fantastic mineral backbone. The oak influence is seamless but pronounced. Still a polarizing wine though with some blind tasters recognizing the wine’s quality while still being put off by the genre of oaked California Chardonnay.
Such a classy bitch. Stylish, refined, and youthful. Drinking so well right now with a fantastic mineral backbone. The oak influence is seamless but pronounced. Still a polarizing wine though with some blind tasters recognizing the wine’s quality while still being put off by the genre of oaked California Chardonnay.
9.3
Patrick Derdeyn
Its developing some really nice complexity at 7yrs. Still a big and slightly oaked chardonnay but developing some mineral and waxy notes as it ages.
Its developing some really nice complexity at 7yrs. Still a big and slightly oaked chardonnay but developing some mineral and waxy notes as it ages.
9.1Wilfred Wong
Chief Storyteller, Wine.com
Medium straw color; active stones in the aromas, keen and fine, some tart apples, excellent depth; medium bodied; dry, fine acidity, well balanced; bright apple flavors, maybe a note of chalk and sweet earth in the background; medium finish, lively aftertaste. This is a really fine effort and brings us back to the early years. The first vintage I tasted was the 1973, when it was just a baby and I really found it remarkable. (Best Served: 2014-2018) #chardonnay #napavalley
Medium straw color; active stones in the aromas, keen and fine, some tart apples, excellent depth; medium bodied; dry, fine acidity, well balanced; bright apple flavors, maybe a note of chalk and sweet earth in the background; medium finish, lively aftertaste. This is a really fine effort and brings us back to the early years. The first vintage I tasted was the 1973, when it was just a baby and I really found it remarkable. (Best Served: 2014-2018) #chardonnay #napavalley
9.1
Christanna Honer
Lemon squares caked w dried coconut & vanilla bean on nose with some buttered toast notes. Palate is full of sweet citrus, juicy yellow apple and spiced vanilla cream pie. Kind of heavy on the finish.
Lemon squares caked w dried coconut & vanilla bean on nose with some buttered toast notes. Palate is full of sweet citrus, juicy yellow apple and spiced vanilla cream pie. Kind of heavy on the finish.
9.0
Tom Higgins
Owner/Winemaker Heart & Hands Wine Company
Oak is a little pronounced on the nose with hints of apricot and vanilla lingering in the background. Blood orange and vanilla on the palate. Seems very focused with the bright acid.
Oak is a little pronounced on the nose with hints of apricot and vanilla lingering in the background. Blood orange and vanilla on the palate. Seems very focused with the bright acid.
8.7
Andrew Harris
Livin large on Friday night.. what better to celebrate
Livin large on Friday night.. what better to celebrate
9.1Nick Benz
Meyer lemon, straw, guava
Meyer lemon, straw, guava
9.0Austin Hohnke
Finesse and elegance. A minimalist, retrained, and refined Chard. Simply gorgeous.
Finesse and elegance. A minimalist, retrained, and refined Chard. Simply gorgeous.
9.5John Skupny - Lang & Reed Wine Company
Tight, a little green - should blossom in time
Tight, a little green - should blossom in time
8.8
Daniel P. Drake
Enjoying the afternoon watching "Bottle Shock" with a lovely bottle of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. Purchased for $33.99. The nose shows lovely fruit, passionfruit, pineapple, peach and a good minerality. On the palate there are good citrus notes, lemon, granny smith apples, honeysuckle, very nice minerality, wet river rock on the backend. Medium + acidity with a long crisp refreshing finish. Very nice Chard.
Enjoying the afternoon watching "Bottle Shock" with a lovely bottle of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. Purchased for $33.99. The nose shows lovely fruit, passionfruit, pineapple, peach and a good minerality. On the palate there are good citrus notes, lemon, granny smith apples, honeysuckle, very nice minerality, wet river rock on the backend. Medium + acidity with a long crisp refreshing finish. Very nice Chard.
9.1
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