2004 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
Apple and hay aromas lifted by lime. Fat, juicy and dry, with subtle flavors of apple, hay, herbs and flowers perked up by a muscaty quality. A no-malo chardonnay, from fruit harvested mostly before the early September heat wave.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Cut from the same mold, the 2004 Chardonnay reveals more tropical fruit and lemon butter characteristics, but perhaps not the length and precision of the 2003. Nevertheless, it is a tasty, steely Chardonnay displaying little oak influence. At the end of my tastings, Bo Barrett opened a 1986 Montelena (rated 94), and it is still incredibly young, rich, vibrant, and full-bodied. It is a terrific expression of Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon made by a master. It appears to have another 20-25 years of aging potential. (Release date 9/06) Tel. (707) 942-5105; Fax (707) 942-4221
About the producer
Chateau Montelena is a historic Napa Valley estate that rose to global fame after its 1973 Chardonnay won the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Renowned for both its Chardonnay and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the winery continues to produce elegant, age-worthy wines with a legacy of excellence.