MassLive‘s wine columnist, Ken Ross, dedicated a feature to Chateau Montelena following a detailed Zoom tasting and conversation with Winemaker Matt Crafton.
The piece speaks to Crafton’s expertise producing classic wines – with his own twist – to honor Chateau Montelena’s history while pushing the winery forward into the 21st century. Crafton is quoted throughout the story, where he also elaborates on how he will be overseeing one of the largest vineyard replants and redesigns in the winery’s history next year.
The piece goes on to spotlight the winery’s sustainability program, the winery’s 2020 challenges, reflections and more. Despite all of the initiatives in place, Crafton maintains his top priority is “making great wines.”
Ross adds the 2018 Napa Valley Chardonnay is a beautiful example. Continuing, Ross explains, “its flavors are soft and subtle. Its aroma is flinty yet floral. There are slight tropical notes, a hint of almonds. And yes, there’s a dash of butter flavor but nothing overwhelming. Everything’s well balanced and in harmony with each other. Everything tastes just right.” Read the full story HERE
11.23.20-MassLiveRelated Wines
Chateau Montelena
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2018
Napa Valley, California
A true icon. The Napa Valley Chardonnay is the wine that put Chateau Montelena and Napa Valley at the forefront of the wine world in 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris.” To great disbelief, the Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays. And as they say, the rest is history.
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Chateau Montelena
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
In 1976 Chateau Montelena put California at the forefront of the wine world. That year a who's-who of the French wine establishment gathered in Paris for a blind tasting of French and American wines. When the scores were tallied, the top-ranking white wine was Chateau Montelena's 1973 Chardonnay. Montelena today continues to be a quality benchmark in Napa Valley, producing some of the finest Cabernet and Chardonnay in California.
