Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chateau Montelena — Chardonnay 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Released as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, this vintage continues the legacy that forever changed the perception of California wine. Crafted in Montelena’s unmistakable style, it favors precision, freshness, and restraint over richness, proving Napa Chardonnay can be both powerful and elegant.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon curd, baked pear, crisp apple, citrus blossom, and subtle white peach are beautifully intertwined with delicate hints of wet stone, light vanilla, and restrained oak.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and exceptional balance. Rich enough to satisfy yet remarkably focused, the palate delivers silky texture, impressive tension, and a long, refined finish that never feels heavy.

Food Pairings
Lobster, scallops, roasted chicken, creamy risotto, grilled halibut, or triple-cream Brie.

Verdict
A benchmark New World Chardonnay that continues to set the standard nearly five decades after its historic triumph. Complex, poised, and beautifully balanced, it is a wine that appeals equally to classic California Chardonnay lovers and those who typically favor more restrained Old World expressions.

Did You Know?
The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the white wine category at the 1976 Judgment of Paris, defeating France’s finest Burgundies in a blind tasting and forever changing the reputation of California wine on the world stage. The 2023 vintage celebrates the 50th anniversary of that landmark event.

🍷 Personal Pick
I’m generally selective with Napa Chardonnay, often preferring leaner, mineral-driven styles. Chateau Montelena remains one of my rare exceptions. It captures the generosity of Napa’s sunshine while preserving freshness, finesse, and impeccable balance. This is a permanent fixture in my cellar and one of the few New World Chardonnays I’d confidently pour for someone who believes they don’t enjoy Napa Chardonnay. — 3 days ago

Abe Froman

9.8

Delicious @caymus with wife m. The bartender Steve let me know that this is what 90% of people come in for and it’s incredible. Super smooth. — 7 days ago

Donald Williams

9.6

Amazing how Cathy Corison can produce wine this good every year. — 8 days ago

with Bonnie

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

40 years birthday crazy party. So many 1986’s. No formal notes. This was bright and surprisingly fresh. My favorite of the evening. — a month ago

Matt Schwartz

8.9

Oak, sawdust, coco nibs, tobacco, black currant and blackberries. This is rich, deep and dark. Mostly secondary and tertiary flavors at this point, not a ton of fruit left. — 22 days ago

Nicole Schilling

9.5

At the Hawke — 7 days ago

Lindsey Kelley

9.1

A very good Cab given to me for a Christmas present one year by my brother. Drank on 6/27/26 with Matt — a month ago

Joe DAscoli

9.5

Opened and decanted for about 2 hours

Evolved from being tight and Bordeaux like to eventually giving off some red fruits and having a kirsch like flavor

Fairly robust and a lot of depth. — 5 days ago

Shay A

9.3

93+

Opened for a quarterly BNO (theme was Cali cabs pre-2016 and Alsatian whites) alongside a 2012 Gustave Lorentz Grand Cru Kanzlerberg Pinot Gris.

My last of three bottles, and all three showed a bit of variation. The second bottle I opened up in Jan of this year was a bit more powerful and leaned toward the darker fruit spectrum whereas this one was very much classical and pure red-fruit driven.

Pulled the cork two hours before consuming. Everything about this wine spoke to a classical style of Cali cab before ripeness got pushed to the limit. Most people agreed this wine showed a good bit of youth. Aromatics of dark cherries, raspberries, red/purple potpourri, hint of graphite. Very fresh and juicy on the palate with ripe red fruits, some herbs and earthiness and a fantastic spine of acidity running through. Even after two hours of being open and consumed over the next 2-3hrs, the tannin at the finish was grippy and paired well with a rich short rib. My friend next to me brought an ‘05 Stag’s Leap Cellars SLV which showed more French in style while also being very much in the “not getting better” territory.

I had a full glass worth to follow the next day and it was beautifully integrated a touch more. If this bottle is as the norm, I’d say it has a couple more years in this lovely window before turning more tertiary. — an hour ago

Jason Phillips

9.3

Wonderful, aromatic nose. Beautiful deep purple color. Great balance with strong tannins. Hints of black currant, oak, and dark fruit on the palate. Dry with a long lingering finish. Great wine. — 14 days ago

Jason Phillips

9.0

Good nose. Dark red color. Lighter than expected but great finish. — 4 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2003 vintage. Opened and decanted without issues or concerns. Used a Durand to open and cork was in great shape. Tasted after 30 minutes. The usual light-medium body. Plenty of polish at the 20+ year marker with unanticipated, ruff splash of chunkiness on the finish. Approx 4-5 years away from the absolute, top of the bell curve now but, given the pedigree, could possibly absorb that timescape another 5-spot and I wouldn't argue. Drink now or later. Either or. Ain't gonna disappoint unless you swing exclusively on Napa mountain fruit vines. 7.1.26. — 24 days ago

Joe Flo

9.6

Drinking perfectly at 8 yrs old — a month ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby/ inky in color with a short purple rim.

Red and black fruits on the nose with cedar, chocolates, spices, tobacco, coffee and black pepper.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, cherries, black currants, black plums, cedar, licorice, chocolates, herbs, coffee, light earth, spices, tobacco leaf and light pencil lead.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is starting to drink beautifully now. Rich and easy drinking.

Fruit forward and complex, soft and smooth. Spicy and entertaining, powerful yet refined. Showing good balance albeit a little hot at the back of the throat, at this point.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years and shows good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot.

15% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$250. — an hour ago

Sharona

9.5

At Wolf by Vanderpump with the Palomino Supper Club, July 10, 2026 — 10 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Oh…the fruit is still solid with dry herbs. 94 a special Napa vintage. 13.4% ABV, miss it. This is when FA was still rocking it.

This gets better & better with each sip. The fruit still ripe, ruby and glorious. When Napa didn’t pick overly ripe fruit. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, purple fruit blend, dark cherries, strawberries, blueberries & raspberries. Sage, black earth, dry twig, red & dark berry cola, softly layered baking spices-clove, cinnamon & vanillin, caramel, mocha powder, chocolate pudding, anise to lighter tarriness, some graphite, soft charcoal, volcanic ash, understated; oak, leather, tobacco, fine grain still somewhat grippy tannins, touch olive tapenade, fresh florals that are; dark, red, blue with liquid violets, balance, length, mid structure & tension with polished elegance for days.

Recent retail purchase. Large library allocation they bought winery direct.

This well stored has another 4-7 yrs left.

What is a good 1994 memory? A question I ask friends when I enjoy an older wine with them. — a month ago

Jelsa

10

Gift from the Jasper as a going away — 8 days ago

John W

9.0

Dark ruby coloration. On the nose, cardamom and chocolate. On the palate, currant, plum and spice. Highly tannic. — 20 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2018 vintage. From magnum. Last tasted 3.19.26 (9.4), 12.5.25 (9.4), 1.31.25 (9.4) and 10.26.23 (9.5). Decanted and tasted after one hour. Yeahhh. 7.1.26. — 24 days ago

Mark Purdy

9.5

Still plenty of structure, color was ruby not brown. Amazing complexity for a 79. What a treat! — a month ago