Chateau Montelena - Chardonnay 2014 | Monsieur Touton Selection

Tasting notes

"Ripe peach, pear and cloves dominate the nose amidst a flurry of floral and honeysuckle notes. There's a wonderful fullness and weight on the palate punctuated by ripe melon, green apple, and fresh citrus. The oak contribution remains subtle with a hint of vanilla and baking spice. The density of the wine is readily apparent as grilled pineapple, lychee, and a rich creaminess linger."

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.

Vinification

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

Vintage

After a dry winter and mild spring, Chateau Montelena did get one substantial rain event before budbreak to saturate the soil profile for the beginning of the growing season. However, drought conditions dominated overall necessitating precise applications of water, which allowed the vines to maintain sufficient stress but still ripen slowly and methodically throughout the summer warmth. The temperatures remained relatively cool at night propelling harvest to an early but not record-setting start as all of the Chardonnay was picked over a roughly two week period from late August to early September.

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.

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