Shay A

9.3

93+

Opened for a quarterly BNO (theme was Cali cabs pre-2016 and Alsatian whites) alongside a 2012 Gustave Lorentz Grand Cru Kanzlerberg Pinot Gris.

My last of three bottles, and all three showed a bit of variation. The second bottle I opened up in Jan of this year was a bit more powerful and leaned toward the darker fruit spectrum whereas this one was very much classical and pure red-fruit driven.

Pulled the cork two hours before consuming. Everything about this wine spoke to a classical style of Cali cab before ripeness got pushed to the limit. Most people agreed this wine showed a good bit of youth. Aromatics of dark cherries, raspberries, red/purple potpourri, hint of graphite. Very fresh and juicy on the palate with ripe red fruits, some herbs and earthiness and a fantastic spine of acidity running through. Even after two hours of being open and consumed over the next 2-3hrs, the tannin at the finish was grippy and paired well with a rich short rib. My friend next to me brought an ‘05 Stag’s Leap Cellars SLV which showed more French in style while also being very much in the “not getting better” territory.

I had a full glass worth to follow the next day and it was beautifully integrated a touch more. If this bottle is as the norm, I’d say it has a couple more years in this lovely window before turning more tertiary. — 12 days ago

Shay A

9.4

@Delectable Wine : This is not a Tokay Pinot Gris. This is the Grand Cru Kanzlerberg Pinot Gris.

Opened for a quarterly BNO (theme was Cali cabs pre-2016 and Alsatian whites) alongside a 2005 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet.

Brought back from my first Alsace trip back in ‘23. In my opinion, when it comes to Grand Cru Pinot Gris, the clear top belongs to Gustave Lorentz, Paul Blanck and Zind-Humbrecht.

When I bought this at the winery in ‘23, it was a current release (I believe they may now be on 2015/2016). When pinot Gris is intentional, the power (and most importantly) texture becomes a true highlight. Golden in the glass with aromatics of honeyed dragon fruit, spiced pear, citrus and a sweet marzipan note. Texturally such a joy with a nearly oily viscosity that has just enough acidity to keep it lively. More honeyed yellow fruits on the palate, pineapple (but not overly sweet) and apricot. Killer companion with foie gras and also mushrooms (which we had with our dinner).

I believe Alsatian Grand Cru Pinot Gris is best at a drinking window of 10-15yrs, and this bottle is squarely in the pocket. — 12 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.0

Plum and pepper with a touch of leather. — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

A little lemon zest, a touch of pear and oak. Rich but fresh. — 3 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.1

Coffee, violet, and leather with cherry and prune. Rich and deep. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1994 vintage. Nice fill with a slightly shrunken and fully saturated cork. Durand helped plenty in the opening assist. Not decanted and tasted after 1.25 hours open. Hadn’t tasted since the early 2000’s. Definitely dropped all the baby fat. Toffee, coffee and chocolate covered cherries in the nose. Light medium body (thought it would be a touch bigger). Still plenty of focus but slightly less grip than desired. Can it match biggie shizz like Montelena, Dunn, Diamond Creek, BV GDL Reserve, Mondavi Reserve, Araujo, Peter Michael Les Pavots, Mayacamas, etc? No. Is it really really nice? Absolutely. Can hold another 5-6 years at this juncture before boarding the downhill bell curve train. 11.8.24. — 2 years ago

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. — 16 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.4

Rich but bright with oak and citrus and a touch of white floral notes and a touch of peach. — a month ago

Andrea Watt

8.9

Apricot, lemon, and pineapple. Crisp and zesty. — a month ago

Andrea Watt

9.4

Cedar and cocoa with leather. Some bleed on color but Imperial has held up surprisingly well! — 3 months ago

Paul Woolls

9.8

Still strong! What fun! — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Flight 4 , wine 2. This was quite a difficult wine to read at first , again quite closed , mineral and tobacco edged . Dark fruits. On the palate rounder than expected , good richness and balance , dark cherry , blackberry fruit . Good rounded tannin and ok length . Quite obviously Bordeaux in the context of this tasting , though I had this as the Lynch Bages 1982 when it was actually the Brane Cantenac 1986 …..I give up ! 90

This was an interesting , though challenging tasting , all served blind in flights of 2 wines , 3 flights of 1 Napa and 1 Bordeaux and 1 of 2 Bordeaux; served in a random sequence . The fact that at least a couple of wines were not pristine didn’t help , though if you will taste 8 , 40 year old wines that is probably par for the course . I found it relatively easy to spot whether what was in the glass was Napa or Bordeaux but didn’t actually get a single wine completely correct ! Probably overall the winner of the tasting was Napa (won the 3 rounds 2-1) as they had more suave polished , rounded personalities. Many put the wines the wrong way round , imagining that Napa was Bordeaux etc. The 1982s in general showed poorly too much funk and brett on the Lynch and Talbot but the Duhart showed surprisingly well . The 86s both showed pretty well and equalled the Dominus (even though I didn’t think we had a pristine bottle) . The Montelena was enjoyable , though was the first to oxidise whilst the Inglenook was the biggest positive surprise , still drinking surprisingly well at 47 . — a year ago

Bill Mowry

9.1

This limited release of Chateau Montelena’s Blanc de Blanc sparkling celebrates the 50th anniversary of the JOP with grapes from one of the three vineyards that produced the winning 1972 chardonnay vintage. Crisp with orange and peach on the nose green apple, lemon, and a hint of ginger on the pallet. — 17 days ago

with Lou, Amelia and 1 other

Bill Mowry

9.3

100% Petite Sirah. Starts with dark ripe fruit including blackberries, blueberry, raspberry, and cedar and forest notes with semisweet chocolate and creamy finish. Very age able with hints of tannins that set up the structure of the wine. — a month ago

with Amelia

Andrea Watt

9.3

Oak, leather, blackberry, and hazelnut. Richer and bolder than I expected for the age. — a month ago

KA

9.2

Elways Steakhouse Denver — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

8.9

Mineral, pear, lavender, and lemon zest. Crisp and slightly tart. — 3 months ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.2

Definitely old color-wise. Brick-orange. Aroma is old bricks and books. Also has a citrus/orange vibe. Flavors are strange and hint funky. Plenty of acid. Still zippy. Complexity has stuck around. The basic background is excellent. A classic aged wine with the strange background of a classic. This has the ghost of Zin in it. Herbal minty side. Not really Zin of today, but strange and fun to try all these years later. A unique wine drinking experience. Held up in a strange and fun way. — 5 months ago

Conrad Green

9.6

Plush and plummy. Dark fruit. Rich and lucid with hints of iodine and dried herbs. Gorgeous stuff. Very pure — 2 years ago

with BOT, Jean-Francois and 2 others

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. From a 375 ml format. Amongst what passes for the ne plus ultra in Napa cabbage these days. Rich. Overtly sumptuous. Modicum of umami on the finish. Restrained/polite company version of a fruit bomb. Too extracted/manipulated without representative tannins for this old-school Dunn/Diamond Creek/Mayacamas/Montelena guy but still verry nice for this style. Dunno where this settles in twenty years but that's someone else's problem down the road. 7.7.24. — 2 years ago