Chateau Montelena - Chardonnay 2013 | Monsieur Touton Selection

Vintage

The stage was set early on in 2013, when normally reliable spring rains never materialized, and the likelihood of real drought appeared on the horizon. A pleasant, albeit unexpected, splash of rain in June set up a picture perfect summer and ideal ripening weather all the way into August and an early harvest. Boots on the ground, both in the vineyard and the winery, make all the difference during dry years as flavors, aromatics and textures in fruit evolve and develop at astonishing rates.

Estate

Chateau Montelena's rich history began on a chilly fall morning when Alfred L. Tubbs spaded over and inspected the soil where he thought of planting estate vineyards. He'd heard the Napa Valley was the best place to grow grapes in California. A deal was struck and in January of 1882 the San Francisco entrepreneur owned 254 acres of rugged land just two miles north of Calistoga at the base of Mount Saint Helena. The soils are well drained, stony and loose – perfect for the vine cuttings he would plant.

Vineyard

The source for Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay is located in the south-central Napa Valley appellation near the base of Mt. Veeder and Dry Creek Valley Road on the western bench of the Napa Valley. It has a good north-eastern exposure with a slope of 4-7%. The Haire-Loam soil has a profile very similar to that of the Carneros region, although the climate is slightly warmer. The vineyard site, developed from old ocean terraces and alluvial fans, contains a lot of sedimentary material such as decomposed shale and blue/gray clay.

Vinification

The wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels, 10% new, for 10 months.

Wine

In the glass, the aromatics lean toward the floral and citrus families with rose petals, lemon blossom, and just a hint of melon sneaking through. While the palate is opulent, full of lemon meringue, peach pie and ripe strawberry, the vibrancy of the acidity reliably lays the foundation for food pairing and aging for many years to come. In classic Montelena fashion, the minerality steps into the spotlight on the finish, coupled with just enough orange zest, and the lingering richness of creme brûlée.

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