2010 Napa Valley Chardonnay

Montelena's 2010 Chardonnay is gorgeous. Lemon and white flowers are some of the nuances that take shape in the glass. Even with the blocked malo and low amount of new oak, the 2010 has an attractive oiliness that adds body and depth but without excess weight. This is a lovely showing.

Montelena’s 2010 Chardonnay is gorgeous. Lemon and white flowers are some of the nuances that take shape in the glass. Even with the blocked malo and low amount of new oak, the 2010 has an attractive oiliness that adds body and depth but without excess weight. This is a lovely showing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020. Chateau Montelena’s 2010 Cabernets are among the highlights in this set of new releases, although the 2011 Chardonnay is pretty terrific as well. Bo Barrett credits his experiences in 1987 and 1988 as a big reason he was able to handle the stresses of the 2010 vintage, in particular the late season heat spikes that gave growers fits. It’s great to see this historic property making wines that live up to its reputation. A recent bottle of the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate was also superb. Tel. (707) 942-5105

Pale bright yellow. Complex, brisk aromas of musky pineapple, medicinal herbs, white pepper and licorice; hardly your typical California chardonnay! At once dense and penetrating, with a strong spine of acidity and some unabsorbed SO2 currently hardening the middle palate. This rather uncompromising no-malolactic chardonnay displays a serious structure for aging, and will probably need five to seven years to soften up and come into harmony. Assistant winemaker Matthew Crafton noted that in the cool growing season of 2010 it was a challenge to ripen chardonnay in cooler sites in Napa Valley.