Served from magnum. Bright golden colour. Expressive, gourmandise nose calling to mind an artisanal patisserie of cooked pineapple, a liberal dose of toffee, peanut brittle and macadamia nut cream. The palate moves away from bakery to fruit: tropical, ripe and luxurious. The fruit is lifted by a bright seam of acidity that supports and electrifies the whole. A truly lovely wine that seems caught in a spotlight right now in its development, singing beautifully.

The 2011 Chardonnay appears to have more richness and body than the 2010 which is counterintuitive considering the cool year but in 2011 Bo Barrett and his team had to wait until the end of October for this fruit to fully ripen which needless to say is highly unusual. The characteristic Montelena Chardonnay aromas and flavors come through but in a slightly richer style than normal. Hints of lemon oil crushed rocks and flowers meld together beautifully on the resonant finish. Barrett adds that the 2011 was the first wine made in the new cellar which is set up to handle small-lot fermentations. Whatever the reasons the 2011 is striking in every way. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. -Antonio Galloni