Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2009 (California)

If you’ve seen the movie Bottle Shock you know the impact Chateau Montelena had on the wine world in 1976. The movie definitely endears you to the struggle California wine makers had, and have, gaining respect for the hard work and love that goes into each bottle. It also will make you want to run out and buy a bottle of Chateau Montelena, whether you’ve had it in the past or not.

So if you have seen the movie you are familiar with this wine. Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery most famous for winning the white wine section of the historic Judgement of Paris wine competition. Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay was in competition with nine other wines from France and California under blind tasting. All 11 judges awarded their top scores to either the Chardonnays from Chateau Montelena or Chalone Winery, another California Wine producer. 

In the glass, classic Chardonnay color of pale golden straw. The subtle oak aging, approximately 9 months provides Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay with complex layers of flavor, tropical to subtle hints of vanilla and spice. The palate is soft and loaded with citrus, sweet mandarin and lemon. There’s a nice balance of acidity and fruit, and this is a crisp, and delicious, white wine. Not an every day wine at around $45 per bottle but a great buy!

This wine tends to evolve hour by hour after opening and only gets better. I typically like my Chardonnay pretty chill but it was nice to allow this wine to warm and open a bit. I served this wine with grilled chicken, shrimp and scallops and the pairing was great! Would pair wonderfully with many cream sauce pasta dishes.

A bit of History

Chateau Montelena is just north of Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena, which could explain some of the flavors in this wine. Terroir of course! The land was purchased in 1882 by an entrepreneur Alfred Loving Tubbs, who planted vines and by 1896 Chateau Montelena was the 7th largest winery in Napa Valley. With the onset of Prohibition wine making ceased at the Chateau and he only sold grapes. By 1958 Tubbs sold the Chateau to Yort wing Frank and his wife Jeanie who created a Chinese garden, still on the property but only open to members f the Chateau wine club. (Clubs have their privileges eh) In 1968 Lee and Helen Paschich purchased the property and brought in partners Lawyer James L Barrett and property developer Earnest Haun. Barrett replanted the vineyard and installed wine making equipment in the historic buildings and it began producing wines again in 1972 with Mike Grgich employed as the winemaker. Four years later, the Chateau Montelena 1973 Alexander Valley Chardonnay won first place among the chardonnays and white Burgundies in the Judgement of Paris wine competition. A bottle of the vintage is in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Wouldn't you love to have a taste?