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Chateau Montelena - Chardonnay 2011
- Producer Chateau Montelena
- Country USA
- Region California
- Appellation Napa Valley
- UPC 7 33555 35112 8
Tasting notes
Nose: Clean, pure aromas of pear and crisp green apple, all overlaid with light tropical fruit notes and a hint of honeysuckle.
Palate: Is wine has wonderful fullness and creaminess without being heavy. A clean soft entry is quickly followed by crisp acidity and a rich display of fruit including juicy nectarine and white peach along with a hint of lychee and fresh citrus.
Finish: The flavors on the finish are reminiscent of pear tart while the oak contribution is well integrated throughout the profile, with just a touch of nuttiness showing through.
Palate: Is wine has wonderful fullness and creaminess without being heavy. A clean soft entry is quickly followed by crisp acidity and a rich display of fruit including juicy nectarine and white peach along with a hint of lychee and fresh citrus.
Finish: The flavors on the finish are reminiscent of pear tart while the oak contribution is well integrated throughout the profile, with just a touch of nuttiness showing through.
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 vineyard site, developed from old ocean terraces and alluvial fans, contains a lot of sedimentary material such as decomposed shale and blue/gray clay. This soil mixture gives moderate drainage and slight acidity. Typically the Chardonnay has a concentrated floral, green apple aroma and a refreshing and persistent impression on the palate.
Wine
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.
Vintage
e cool growing season resulted in lower sugars and longer, slower flavor development. is allowed us to really hone in on the narrow band of flavors that we aim for without having to contend with any of the “noise” that we see in the really ripe (hotter) years.
