Chateau Montelena - A Legend

Many of you know wine is a happy place for me.  Everything about wine thrills me, excites me and makes me happy. As you can tell by the smile on my face from this iconic producer, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017, brought me to my happy place and then some!

Quick recap - Chateau Montelena was the unprecedented winner at the infamous 1976 Paris Wine Tasting (a.k.a. Judgement of Paris) for their 1973 Chardonnay against their French counterparts (sorry guys). The event, organized by the late and great Steven Spurrier, had the finest French wines competing against the unknown California wines.  To everyone's amazement, the California wines - red and white — beat out their French competitors. It rocked the wine industry to it’s core.  

Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

Medium lemon color for this warm climate Chardonnay. 

Swirl and fragrant ripe aromas of apple & pear, rich pineapple, honeydew melon, lemon zest, caramel, pastry, straw, stone, honey, cream, honeysuckle, vanilla, clove & hazelnut. 

Sip and It’s a bright, focused and oh so well structured full bodied Chardonnay.  The sultry flavors just lingered in a fine, linear fashion. Silky and sculptured - I loved it. 

Enjoy with broiled bacon wrapped scallops, herb stuffed roast pork or shrimp orzo salad.