Chateau Montelena Estate Chardonnay 2023
(Napa Valley, California) - [DM 95]

The 2023 vintage will be remembered as one of the best in the last decade. Overall, it was an outstanding growing season where the mild conditions prevailed, capping an exceptional vintage.

While there’s certainly California luster and opulence in the margins, both are tucked away right now, overshadowed by lush pear, lime leaf and orange blossom. The minerality and tension on the palate are simply awesome and the acidity is bright and racy. Wines from cool-vintages tend to mature slightly more slowly than their warm-vintage cousins, so expect the parade of citrus, green apple and flinty minerals to dominate for the next few years. That said, the mouthfeel is just gorgeous with more gravitas and weight than I would have expected at this time; a very pleasant surprise.

-Winemaker Matt Crafton

Tasting Notes:

Cool vintages are something special. While there’s certainly California luster and opulence in the margins, both are tucked away right now, overshadowed by lush pear, lime leaf and orange blossom. The minerality and tension on the palate are simply awesome and the acidity is bright and racy. Wines from these vintages tend to mature slightly more slowly than their warm-vintage cousins, so expect the parade of citrus, green apple and flinty minerals to dominate for the next few years. That said, the mouthfeel is just gorgeous with more gravitas and weight than I would have expected at this time; a very pleasant surprise.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
Vivid, pure citrus expression with a mineral character, like the squeeze of a just-picked Meyer lemon over an oyster-shell, laced with white floral notes. Linear in its youthful exuberance, it shows a fabulous core of dense citrus and orchard fruit, with a lemon-oil richness underpinning the fruit that maintains a purely delicate edge. Crisp, crunchy acidity provides shape and drive, while enticing Marcona almond notes add some depth and texture through the finish.