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. — a month 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. — a month ago

Steven Moya

9.1

Love the Justin brand. — 2 months ago

Mark Purdy

9.5

Still plenty of structure, color was ruby not brown. Amazing complexity for a 79. What a treat! — 2 months ago

Scot Walker

9.2

Dark fruit in the nose with plums, black cherries, leather and blackberries in the palate. Paired well with steak au poivre. Drank in 2026, could use aeration to fully enjoy the wine. — 3 months ago

Slestyan

9.0

Butter, oak, lime? — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2021 vintage. Medium-medium heavy body. 4.1.26. — 5 months ago

Kent Wessels

9.4

Had at bite and third and main — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with splashes of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec all SLD estate fruit, deep Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits, oak and sweet spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, cherry and currants with tobacco and herb spice. Fine smooth tannins, approachable, long finish ending with fruit, oak, spice and herb mineral character. Nice! — 8 months ago

R. David Liebers

9.0

Pleasant aroma, fruity on the tongue with a dry finish. — 6 years ago

Ki Punwar

Owner, California Wine Republic

9.7

Drinking really well right now — 7 days ago

Andrea Watt

8.9

Plum and mushroom with a touch of pepper. Good but a little earthy for me. — a month ago

Garen Staglin

9.7

2021 is amazing. Great vintage and well done. — a month ago

Jason Phillips

9.0

Good nose. Dark red color. Lighter than expected but great finish. — 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. — 2 months 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 — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Oak and leather with plum. Rich and bold. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This is a producer that should be more revered than it is. His 90’s were amongst my favorite Napa Cabernets. Especially, the 94, which is exceptional and I’ve had on 3-4 occasions.

2007 is a grand vintage but this one needs more cellaring. It is still in its adolescence. I would like to try this in another 8-10 yrs. Don’t get me wrong, this drinks nicely now but it’s best is still ahead.

I coravined & decanted this in a big Bordeaux glass for an hour and it is still a 1/2 monster.

The nose shows; dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries with understated raspberries in the glass edges, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets.

The M+ tannins are round, velvety, dusty and still meaty. Dark currents/cassis, blackberries, black plum w/ skin, very black cherries, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, liqueur cherries with understated, hovering raspberries. Dark, rich earth with dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mocha powder, caramel, chocolate baking bar, understated baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, both black & red licorice/cola, moist herbs, tree sap, soft, moist cigar box, leather, anise, rounded very dark spices, moist clays, limestone, dry top soils-river stone and beautiful, withering/candied dark & red florals framed in candied violets, very round, pleasant acidity with balance for days, still pronounced structure/tension, great length and a smartly, polished, ruby two-minute finish that long sets on on deep, dark spice, earthiness & ruby, dark currents.

Right now a Filet steak, not a fatty steak, Ribeye or Ribcap.

Still so youthful! Add a point or two in 7-10 yrs. .

Philip is in his 90’s and still involved in the winemaking. He walks the property daily. — 4 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.0

2022. Too much ripe fruit flavors when opened, but after about an hour the flavors balanced out quite a bit (though it never really had a lot of acidity or tannins). Paired well with a salty crusty rib roast. — 8 months ago

WC Fields

9.5

A stunner. — 13 days 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. — a month ago

Christian Fischer

9.4

Smooth and well-balanced. Nice ending of the evening — a month ago

Donald Williams

9.6

Amazing how Cathy Corison can produce wine this good every year. — a month 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. — 2 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.4

Clear, deep ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of plums, blueberries, and camphor; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced intensity primary and secondary flavors of blackberries, ground coffee, cocoa, and menthol with a long finish. This wine is intense and complex. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. — 2 months ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

A cab that is meant to be on the young side for most flavor. — 4 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Good but a few years past ideal — 5 months ago

Peter Montoleone

9.4

Drinking really well right now! — 5 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Deep ruby color. Aromas of dark cherry, plum, eucalyptus and baking spice. Blackberry on the palate, nutmeg/clove, earthy finish. — 6 months ago

Brennan Roy

9.0

One of my favorite cabs. Wonderfully balanced complexity, silky mouth feel, a bit chewy with a delightful finish. Put it up for a couple of years if you can wait. — 8 months ago