Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023

The 2023 vintage will be remembered as one of the best in the last decade. Overall, it was an outstanding growing season where the mild conditions prevailed, capping an exceptional vintage. While there’s certainly California luster and opulence in the margins, both are tucked away right now, overshadowed by lush pear, lime leaf and orange blossom. The minerality and tension on the palate are simply awesome and the acidity is bright and racy. Wines from cool-vintages tend to mature slightly more slowly than their warm-vintage cousins, so expect the parade of citrus, green apple and flinty minerals to dominate for the next few years. That said, the mouthfeel is just gorgeous with more gravitas and weight than one would have expected at this time; a very pleasant surprise.