Chateau Montelena - Chardonnay 2022

Chateau Montelena is renowned for consistently producing age-worthy, classically-styled wines that capture the nuances of each vintage and its distinct terroir. Widely known for winning the Judgment of Paris in 1976, it helped put California at the forefront of the wine world. Founded in 1882, the winery flourished until Prohibition. The modern revival of Chateau Montelena began in 1972 when Jim Barrett purchased the Estate. Recognizing the property’s unique potential, the Barrett Family invested in replanting the vineyard, modern equipment, and improving all farming and winemaking processes. Today Chateau Montelena is honored on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to be family-owned and operated by the Barrett Family.

Classically-styled, Montelena wines are delicious upon release but will only increase in richness and complexity over the ensuing decades. To showcase the ageability of Montelena wine, the winery re-releases the vintage of a decade prior alongside the current release of Estate Cabernet and the vintage of a half-decade prior alongside the current release of Chardonnay. Being able to taste back through library vintages provides the perspective to understand how these wines evolve over time.

Chateau Montelena’s fifty-year legacy endures today through continuous investments in both the winery and vineyard, wines that perfectly encapsulate the expression of the Montelena Estate and each unique vintage, and a deep institutional knowledge that serves as a reference point in the creation of these iconic wines.

Winemaker Matt Crafton leads the production and farming teams at Chateau Montelena. His flexible winemaking approach is dependent on what is happening in the vineyard each year. The goal is to create an artisanal product that highlights each unique growing season and each distinct sense of place. Chateau Montelena is known for its age-worthy wines, classically-styled wine that stand the test of time and increase with richness and complexity over the ensuing decades. 10 Months in Barrel: French Oak (25% New). 

Producer: Chateau Montelena

Country: USA

Region: California

Varietal: Chardonnay

Appellation: Napa Valley

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml