Jayna Fontenot

9.0

Buttery, creamy, and exactly what I look for in a cali Chard. Yum. — 22 days ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

8.9

2023 vintage. Crisp apricot and pear aromas on the nose, light oak taste on the palette, decent finish. Great afternoon wine with cheese, salami, and hummus. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Medium lemon color with aromas of fresh ripe stone fruits and floral notes. On the palate fresh fruit flavors of apple, peach, citrus and pineapple with honey and savory toasty oak tones. Long finish ends with tangy citrus, biscuit and mineral notes. — 3 months ago

Matthew Sparling

9.5

Very nice and smooth Chardonnay. Fruity to start but nice oak on the backend. — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Founded in 1982 by Koerner and Joan Rombauer and sits on a tree covered knoll overlooking the Napa Valley, with caves that extend for over a mile. Pale lemon color with aromas of stone and tropical fruit, sweet oak, spice and floral scents. On the palate flavors of ripe peach, melon and apple, with vanilla spice, creamy texture. Medium+ finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with mineral notes. — 6 months ago

joy horn

9.9

Bought at Pine Orchard 11/25 $70 after tasting at Ridge in 10/25. Less expensive here. The 2023 is rated at 100 pts. Absolutely delicious. Floral aromas, lightly crisp, subtle oak, smooth finish. — 7 months ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.1

Oaky, not seamless and integrated but also not over the top. There is good wine underneath the sheen of oak. If your thing you'll like it... — 8 months ago

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. — 2 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.4

Oak, pear, citrus, mineral, and brioche. — 4 months ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

v21. Consistently very good! Fragrant creme brûlée nose. Buttery honeysuckle and lime fruit. Luscious soft oak finish. Always good! — 4 months ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

v21. Consistently very good! Soft creme brûlée nose. Buttery, apple and soft lime zest fruit. Long, full, round, creamy oak finish. Totally balanced.. well done! — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Blend from Estate vineyards, pale lemon color with aromas of white fruits, citrus, vanilla and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of apple, peach, pear and floral citrus, vanilla, oak, well balanced with lively acidity. Long finish ending with nutty toasty biscuit spice, mineral and citrus notes. Will age a bit. — 8 months ago

Edward Allen

9.0

Nice balance of fruit, oak, and creamy smoothness. Not too much of any one thing but I could use a touch more oak and butter against the fruit. I also prefer a bit more crisp body along with the buttery oak pulled off in the middle or lingering end, but this is a solid fallback and crowd pleaser. — 8 months ago

S&M

9.1

06/19/26 - Was quite pale for a Chardonnay. Had sweet notes, hay and green apple. Taste was surprising with light oak but a jammy sweetness to it. M thought apple butter and S thought sweet butter. — a month ago

Slestyan

9.0

Butter, oak, lime? — 3 months ago

Alex Michael

9.0

Crisp. Peach and mango. Fruity. Medium acidity. No oak. Nice for an easy drinking Chardonnay — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and spice scents. On the palate complex flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A beautiful Chardonnay. Pair this with a tuna steak. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Quite a light to mid lemon in colour for its 11 years of age. Nutty (almond and cashew) aromas. Oak has integrated. The palate shows those same nutty notes together with that trademark pear character with white nectarine. Overall still youthful. My remaining 3 bottles will easily see out this decade. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A Fav! Medium+ lemon color with aromas of stone fruits, spice, floral, cedar, biscuits and citrus. On the palate flavors of apple, pear & ripe apricot with citrus zest, honeysuckle and nutty toasty oak notes, rich with creamy tones. Smooth, long finish, well balanced with acidity, ending with fruit and integrated creamy oak. Nice! — 8 months ago

Lyn Farmer

9.1

Very elegant with Medium intensity aromas and flavors of apple, pineapple, apricot, white peach, nectarine, elderflower, brioche, clove, vanilla and smoke.
Hint of dried apricot and honey.
Very good quality, balancing aromatics with a hint of oak. Interesting style with batonnage, 18% new French oak — 3 years ago