Jay Kline

9.6

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2015 pours a crystal clear, pale straw color with persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright green apple, star fruit, citrus tree blossom, lemon curd and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. This is a baby but there’s already a lot of material here. The texture is extraordinary. Expect a long life ahead. Drink now with maybe a short decant, through 2055. Third tranche. Disgorged September of 2025. — 2 days ago

Jenn

8.9

Slightly disappointed, had higher hopes based on the reviews. Although company was great, NYT, couch, candle, cheeseboard. #CPtheVP — 34 minutes ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium light lemon yellow , touch of green . Quite a lot of struck match , quite young and reductive on the nose . Some ripe lemon hints , smoky yellow fruits , peach , apricot and honeysuckle. On the palate this is quite intense and structured with the citrus and yellow fruits mixed with a chalky notes . This has good length and extract and refreshing acidity with creamy mouthfeel , after a while becoming even more mineral and fresh with an intense finish. Showing pretty young still , needs a bit of time to wake up but lots of potential . Even better in 5 years or so and will last well a further 5 - 10 . — 25 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

So good! Showing notes of lemon, citrus, wet stone, mineral, flint & racy acids — 22 days ago

Martijn

9.5

From a demi bouteille. Very ripe and lush. — a month ago

Jelle Lars Heijmans

9.9

Magnum 99+ — a month ago

GaryWEdwards

9.5

This is a pleasant stunner of citrus zest and tart apple. Whoa! Note to self: 12 is not sufficient supply. — a month ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.2

2022. Full bodied. Great but not too opulent nose. Lovely acidity and balanced. Macadamia nuts, lemon and something else I can’t name. Love. — 4 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Golden in color.

Strong nose of citrus, yellow apples, light pineapples, spices, light cedar, earth, herbs and white pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, light grapefruits, spices, light oak, earth and herbs.

Long finish with limes and almonds.

This delicious 10 years old Chardonnay from Napa Valley is still drinking beautifully. Very complex, elegant and nicely balanced.

Still showing enough fruits to balance the earth notes. Nicely aged, and will not get better from this point on.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 20 minutes of airtime.

It's always nice to try these kind of aged wines. Good by itself as a sipping and with food.

100% Chardonnay grapes were aged in (34% new) French Oak barrels for 8 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 20 days ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Not premoxed… hallelujah! Honey, lime, glorious freshness though. Intense and great length. Finally! — 18 days ago

with David

romo

9.3

Reduced and young, very serious. Not your book club Chardonnay. - at Laurelhurst — a month ago

michael pandolfo

9.3

A M A Z I N G!!!! Fragrant nose of fresh brioche and warm plums. Slight hint of marzipan. Long finish. Delicious. Love what this have evolved into. — a day ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Clean and fresh and mineral. Hints of pears and soft citrus. Long — 2 months ago

with Gregg

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min. The 2024 “White Hill” pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright notes of star fruit, passion fruit, stone fruits, lemons, a touch of freshly struck matchstick, some white flowers and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and slightly saline. I love the character of these wines. Really tasty stuff. Drink now through 2034+. — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Gorgeous limpid soft lime and wet stone with some hints of peach and a subtle rounded mindshare. Complex, light deft and delicious this us in a perfect place right now — 8 days ago

with Bex and Major-General

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chateau Montelena — Chardonnay 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Released as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, this vintage continues the legacy that forever changed the perception of California wine. Crafted in Montelena’s unmistakable style, it favors precision, freshness, and restraint over richness, proving Napa Chardonnay can be both powerful and elegant.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, baked pear, crisp apple, citrus blossom, and subtle white peach are beautifully intertwined with delicate hints of wet stone, light vanilla, and restrained oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and exceptional balance. Rich enough to satisfy yet remarkably focused, the palate delivers silky texture, impressive tension, and a long, refined finish that never feels heavy.

Food Pairings
Lobster, scallops, roasted chicken, creamy risotto, grilled halibut, or triple-cream Brie.

Verdict
A benchmark New World Chardonnay that continues to set the standard nearly five decades after its historic triumph. Complex, poised, and beautifully balanced, it is a wine that appeals equally to classic California Chardonnay lovers and those who typically favor more restrained Old World expressions.

Did You Know?
The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the white wine category at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, defeating France’s finest Burgundies in a blind tasting and forever changing the reputation of California wine on the world stage. The 2023 vintage celebrates the 50th anniversary of that landmark event.

🍷 Personal Pick
I’m generally selective with Napa Chardonnay, often preferring leaner, mineral-driven styles. Chateau Montelena remains one of my rare exceptions. It captures the generosity of Napa’s sunshine while preserving freshness, finesse, and impeccable balance. This is a permanent fixture in my cellar and one of the few New World Chardonnays I’d confidently pour for someone who believes they don’t enjoy Napa Chardonnay. — a month ago

Elmars

9.3

Great wine, probably past its prime time, but still aromatic, well balanced with lime notes. — 21 hours ago

Conrad Green

9.7

Supple complex oily and delicious in the nose. In the glass this is getting more expensive: pear, limestone, white pepper. Restrained but super classy and complex. Amazing stuff! — a month ago

Roman Boudou

10

Wow! Mgn. My precious — a month ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.5

Magnum en maximo mex vs ecua — a month ago