Ch. Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley California 2021

Chateau Montelena has a celebrated history, and the Judgment of Paris is just one chapter.

Modern technology does not replace people or the art in winemaking but expands our creative potential. There are no formulas here.

Careful consideration drives every project with the determination to build our future.

Time is the critical element in Montelena wines. It’s the opposite of “best practices” in agriculture and the standardized, proverbial focus on being lean and efficient. Luxury embodies time. It’s in the nature of vineyard expression over the course of an entire year, or the expression of site over the decades. A wine’s maturation in barrel is delineated as a function of time, despite its inherent complexity. is, in turn, is reflected in the patience of discovery: the anticipation of a wine’s future development in bottle. Most importantly, it’s the time taken to savor a glass–and the moment–when it’s finally opened to be enjoyed and shared.

Aromatics are off the charts as a great wine should be, notes of green apple, orange blossom and white peaches.  On the palate the wine explodes with notes of lychee, pear, pineapple, stone fruit and rich texture. The acidity, oak and fruit are all in balance.