2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Double magnum. Another drought year. Aged for 10 months in French oak, 10% new. Some vegy quality on the nose – very different from the 2022! Then round lime juice on the palate. Lots of pleasure but not a trace of sweetness or popcorn. And still a little chewy! Masses of acidity. (JR)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Current vintage – pretty warm growing season. Pale straw colour. Mild appley nose. Sweet and sour. Still pretty dense and unevolved. Masses of chew. Still a bit of a simple baby but with real potential. (JR)
Caramelized citrus, apple skin and a touch of tangerine oil are all present in the medium-bodied, refreshing, basically unoaked or neutral oaked style of Chardonnay that Chateau Montelena’s produced in 2013. This style is meant to show the fruit and acid of the varietal. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
The 2013 Chardonnay is unusually open in this vintage. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint and sage are some of the signatures. Deceptively medium in body, the 2013 shows all the classic parameters of Montelena Chardonnays, but it comes across as a bit light in style today and less impressive than it was last year. I would prefer to drink it on the earlier side.
About the producer
Chateau Montelena is a historic Napa Valley estate that rose to global fame after its 1973 Chardonnay won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Renowned for both its Chardonnay and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery continues to produce elegant, age-worthy wines with a legacy of excellence.