89 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2010

Speaking of non-malolactic, the reserved 2009 Chardonnay exhibits delicate pear and honeysuckle notes as well as crisp, fresh acidity, medium body and a steely purity. This is often referred to as the Ric Forman style, but Montelena has been doing it as long as Ric has (as have such legendary wineries as Stony Hill).

90 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, June 2011

(just 10% new oak used; the winery cherry-picked the fruit for this bottling and sold off the rest in bulk): Bright yellow. Lively aromas of apple, citrus fruit, mint and licorice. Juicy and vibrant, with almost painful mid-palate cut. Still youthfully tight, but this no-malo chardonnay displays good underlying density. The persistent finish shows good cut. Clearly the product of a moderately cool growing season. Montelena's chardonnay is vinified to dryness in tank, then ages for several months in 10% new oak, on the fine lees but without stirring. I suspect this will evolve slowly. 90+

89 points,

Wine Spectator, July 2012

Pure, clean and elegant, true to the Montelena style, this is fruit-forward, with little discernible oak presence. Wildflower, peach and nectarine flavors turn smooth and delicate. Drink now through 2018. -JL

About Winery

Chateau Montelena was established in 1882, but it was almost 100 years later that Jim Barrett took control and began a renaissance. The first wines were made in 1972 and in 1976 Chateau Montelena helped put California at the forefront of the wine world. That year a who's-who of the French wine and food establishment gathered for a grand tasting in Paris.

Four white Burgundies were tasted against six California Chardonnays and Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay rated above all other wines. The results proved that Chateau Montelena could produce some of the world's finest wines and that California's wine industry had come of age. Decades later, this celebrated family-owned winery continues to thrive with Jim Barrett at the helm.

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