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New Release: Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020
‘Classic wines, regardless of fads or fashion.’
Joe Czerwinski
Wine Advocate
Montelena’s Napa Valley Chardonnay is the wine that wowed the judges at the famed Judgement of Paris in 1976. A wine of class and elegance, the 2020 vintage is the embodiment of Montelena’s approach which focuses on freshness and complexity. Concentrated and vibrant with a bright, citrus bouquet and mouthwatering lemon and green apple flavours, the 2020 is an absolute classic.
The harvest was completed in record time in 2020 following a warm, dry summer. The grapes ripened quickly: ‘All of the Chardonnay vineyards began to move together, like a tidal wave. The wave broke on August 22. After seven intense days, the entire Chardonnay crop was harvested.’ (Winemaker, Matt Crafton). As normal, there was no malolactic fermentation and the wine spent 10 months in French barrels (15 – 25% new) with additional maturation in bottle before release.
Bancroft Wines is the exclusive importer for Chateau Montelena in the UK. We are delighted to offer you this classic 2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay at 300.00 per case of 6 in bond until end of August. There are a limited number of cases available so please contact us as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.
Purchase In Bond (ex duty & VAT)
2020 Napa Valley Chardonnay, Chateau Montelena
£300.00 per 6 bottle case in bond
‘As usual, it’s a non-malolactic fermentation wine, matured in a relatively small proportion of new French oak, and so it reveals hints of apple, tangerine and lime on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it’s sappy, a bit linear and vibrant on the palate, finishing crisp and long. I’ve capped the aging estimate at a decade, but past vintages have aged successfully for 20 years or more, depending on your preferences.’ 93 points, Joe Czerwinski. Wine Advocate
Winemaker note:
‘Nose: Bright gold in the glass, the wine opens with green apple, honeysuckle and orange blossom. The citrus in particular seems to be most evident, as lime leaf and lemon zest at this stage. This vintage was more classic rather than overly ripe, so it’s not surprising. There’s a hint of fresh wood and vanilla as well, adding some nuance without overshadowing the beautiful floral character. Palate: The parade of citrus marches on, although the midpalate turns more tropical with starfruit and pineapple. And while there’s still plenty of green apple, the texture and juiciness of Asian pear adds complexity and depth. The acid is consistent and winds its way through the profile, lifting the texture and balancing the suppleness from barrel. This will be a long-lived wine. Finish: The transition to the finish is still somewhat abrupt due to the wine’s youth and dynamism. This will change over time. But here, the character is dominated by lemon curd and pie crust, along with chalk and fresh apricot. The acid is still mouthwatering, although it has mellowed somewhat. Despite its young age, the overall length of this Chardonnay is impressive.’ Matt Crafton
Enquire About Availability
To enquire about purchasing, please fill in the Enquiry Form below, contact James Snoxell
([email protected]), or call our office at +44 (0) 20 7232 5450