Napa Valley Chardonnay 2013

The Chardonnay for the 2013 vintage is sourced from vineyards located in the south-central Napa Valley appellation, near the base of Mt. Veeder and Dry Creek Valley Road on the western bench of the Napa Valley. It has a good north-eastern exposure with a slope of 4-7%. The Haire-Loam soil has a profile very similar to that of the Carneros region, although the climate is slightly warmer. The vineyard site, developed from old ocean terraces and alluvial fans, contains a lot of sedimentary material such as decomposed shale and blue/gray clay. This soil mixture gives moderate drainage and slight acidity. Typically, the Chardonnay has a concentrated floral, green apple aroma and a refreshing and persistent impression on the palate.

The Napa Valley Chardonnay is made of 100% Chardonnay grapes and was aged in 100% French oak barrels (10% New) for 10 months. Emblematic to the style of the estate, it offers concentrated floral, green apple aromas and a refreshing and persistent impression on the palate.

The stage was set early on in 2013, when normally reliable spring rains never materialized, and the likelihood of real drought appeared on the horizon. Chateau Montelena has dealt with these types of vintages before, as far back as 1978, so thankfully the skilled staff was familiar with the extraordinary potential of the wines as long as stress in the vineyard is managed and attention to detail is maintained in the cellar. A pleasant, albeit unexpected, splash of rain in June set up a picture perfect summer and ideal ripening weather all the way into August and an early harvest. Boots on the ground, both in the vineyard and the winery, make all the difference during dry years as flavors, aromatics, and textures in fruit evolve and develop at astonishing rates.

The concentration in the 2013 Chardonnay is really what sets it apart. In the glass, the aromatics lean toward the floral and citrus families with rose petals, lemon blossom, and just a hint of ripe melon sneaking through. While the palate is opulent, full of lemon meringue, peach pie, and ripe strawberry, the vibrancy of the acidity reliably lays the foundation for food pairing and aging for many years to come. In classic Montelena fashion, the minerality steps into the spotlight on the finish, coupled with just enough orange zest, and the lingering richness of crème brûlée.

This is a totally food friendly wine that can be enjoyed on its own, or as a complement to any number of dishes – especially fresh seafood, shellfish or poultry. The creaminess of a crab salad or lobster roll will cut through the acidity and citrus notes of the wine beautifully.