{"product_id":"chateau-montelena-napa-valley-chardonnay","title":"Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"189\" data-end=\"257\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"189\" data-end=\"257\"\u003eChateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022 — Tasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"259\" data-end=\"581\"\u003eBright gold in the glass, this 2022 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay opens with a fragrant bouquet of melon, orange blossom, fresh peach and honeysuckle. Oak influence on the nose is \u003cstrong data-start=\"438\" data-end=\"453\"\u003every subtle\u003c\/strong\u003e, showing in the background as gentle \u003cstrong data-start=\"491\" data-end=\"514\"\u003epie crust and toast\u003c\/strong\u003e rather than overt woodiness. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"941\"\u003eOn the palate, the wine is supple and silky, with vibrant citrus (Meyer lemon) and orchard fruit balanced by chalky minerality. As the profile transitions toward the finish, there’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"765\" data-end=\"796\"\u003eslightly more oak character\u003c\/strong\u003e in the form of \u003cstrong data-start=\"812\" data-end=\"845\"\u003ebaking spice and crème brûlée\u003c\/strong\u003e, adding nuance and warmth without overpowering the fruit. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"943\" data-end=\"1121\"\u003eThe finish lingers with tropical notes of Asian pear, mango and pineapple, with the oak-derived spice thread enhancing complexity and depth. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1123\" data-end=\"1341\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"1123\" data-end=\"1135\"\u003eOverall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oak here is \u003cstrong data-start=\"1148\" data-end=\"1175\"\u003emeasured and integrated\u003c\/strong\u003e, providing subtle spice and textural support that complements — rather than dominates — this expressive Napa Valley Chardonnay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"118\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"118\"\u003eChateau Montelena \u0026amp; the Judgement of Paris\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"120\" data-end=\"601\"\u003eChateau Montelena is one of Napa Valley’s most historic estates, but its place in global wine history was cemented in 1976 at the now-legendary \u003cem data-start=\"264\" data-end=\"284\"\u003eJudgement of Paris\u003c\/em\u003e. At a blind tasting organized by British wine merchant Steven Spurrier, Montelena’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"369\" data-end=\"400\"\u003e1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay\u003c\/strong\u003e was tasted alongside some of France’s most revered white Burgundies by a panel of leading French judges. To the astonishment of the wine world, Chateau Montelena emerged as the top-scoring white wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"603\" data-end=\"977\"\u003eThe result sent shockwaves through the international wine trade, challenging long-held assumptions about Old World superiority and announcing California as a serious force on the world stage. Overnight, Chateau Montelena became a symbol of a new era in fine wine, and the Judgement of Paris is now widely regarded as one of the most important moments in modern wine history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"979\" data-end=\"1335\"\u003eThis dramatic story was later brought to a wider audience in the 2008 film \u003cem data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1068\"\u003eBottle Shock\u003c\/em\u003e, starring \u003cstrong data-start=\"1079\" data-end=\"1095\"\u003eAlan Rickman\u003c\/strong\u003e as Steven Spurrier. The film chronicles the tension, skepticism, and triumph surrounding the tasting, helping to cement Chateau Montelena’s legend beyond the wine world and introducing a new generation to Napa Valley’s breakthrough moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1337\" data-end=\"1701\"\u003eToday, under the long stewardship of the Barrett family, Chateau Montelena continues to produce wines of balance, restraint, and longevity. While the estate has since become equally respected for its Cabernet Sauvignon, the legacy of that historic Chardonnay victory remains a defining chapter in both the winery’s identity and the global rise of Californian wine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wenlock Cellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56586327392600,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0936\/2243\/6184\/files\/chateau-montelena-napa-valley-chardonnay-2016-popup.jpg?v=1769185540","url":"https:\/\/wenlockcellars.co.uk\/products\/chateau-montelena-napa-valley-chardonnay","provider":"Wenlock Cellars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}