2022 Chateau Montelena - Chardonnay Napa (750ml)

2022 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay — Napa Valley (750ml)

Chateau Montelena traces its roots to 1882, when San Francisco entrepreneur Alfred Tubbs purchased land near Calistoga at the base of Mount Saint Helena to plant vineyards on its well-drained, stony soils. The estate’s modern era began in 1968, when Jim Barrett bought the property and rebuilt the winery to a standard worthy of Bordeaux’s greatest estates. That vision culminated in 1976, when Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay outscored top white Burgundies at the Judgment of Paris, a milestone that helped establish California as a serious wine region. Today Bo Barrett leads the estate alongside winemaker Matt Crafton. This Chardonnay comes from Napa Valley fruit farmed with careful attention to each growing season’s character rather than a fixed house style.

The 2022 vintage began cool, avoided frost damage, and moved through a mild summer before a burst of heat around Labor Day accelerated ripening, concentrating flavor in the grapes harvested afterward. The wine undergoes non-malolactic fermentation and ages in a modest portion of new French oak, an approach designed to preserve bright acidity alongside real depth.

Tasting notes

• Nose offers intense aromas of peach, apricot, and kiwi that unfold into orange blossom and cantaloupe.
• Palate reveals vibrant citrus notes of mandarin and Meyer lemon, leading to a long finish accented by d'Anjou pear, baking spice, and a touch of ginger.

Food pairing

This Chardonnay pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, seared scallops, or a rich mushroom risotto.