Agree with the previous comments about oakiness. There's just too much on this wine. However, the fruit and acid are quite good. The oak just brings the wine out of balance unfortunately.
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Gros jus sur l'élevage et sur les amandes. Gras et crêmeux avec une impression de sucré. Vraiment de style moderne avec un manque d'acidité. Ample et too much. Maquillé pour plaire à un certain public....mais pas pour moi.
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Should you be interested, I’ve uploaded info for this vintage which you can peruse at your leisure. 😉
Private Preserve used after Day 1.
N: An attractive creaminess SLIGHTLY atop a melding of flowers, lemons, & spice
P: Med body; NICE melding of ALMOST swtish frt & oak met by a crisp acidity which needs food to bring the swt frt/oak forward, that 1st sip with victuals certainly tending to ease its way in before cleansing the palate with its acidity. I thought this food wine went QUITE well with COSTCO's Roasted Chx, Mashed Potatoes, & TJ's Whl Kernel Swt Corn, + I'm thinking it would do well with Cream Sauce Entrées? 13.6% ABV; My EXC-, & should drink into '24, possibly longer.
// Day 3: Served @ room temp (albeit cool); Still attractive, ~ aromas with their lemon/citrus aspect > prominent. P has not faded, working its way out of its mid-P firmness to an ult fairly pleasant, citrus tinged finish. Barely passable with Grilled Tilapia [too potent for me], better with TJ's Mushroom Risotto, & poss a go with the Grilled Salmon, though I didn't get to try that pairing.
∑: Sticking with Day 1's evaluation, though may well need something > substantial than simply grilled, mild seafood in order to attain it. Also, serve warmer rather than cooler. [As of mid Jan '21, wine-searcher still shows 3 sources @ $55].
Note: First tasted on 5/4/18
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Juxtaposition from richer apple tones via the warmer vintage and the attempt to construct an early harvest, mineral-driven wine. Soft with mouth coating flavors of apple and candied lemon.
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This wine is a beautiful light golden straw color with more than just inflections of green. The nose is composed of apples, wool, a light earthiness, mango, and fresh cut grass. The palate is excellent. I taste granny smith apples, lime and lemon zest, crushed rocks, alcohol, and maybe the slightest hint of dried apricots. The acidity is medium, complexity is medium (+), and the finish is medium (-) for a Chardonnay. This winery manages to do it right over and over again.
Well I must say that this wine is as awesome as I have found in a Napa Chardonnay for this price. The wine starts with a tasty but tart bitter sweet apple and quickly moves to citrus dominated. This wine is fruit forward and backed by a spine of acidity which could make it run to improve.
Overall I really liked it and think it could improve for another 1 year.
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What a treat to have a current reflection of the white shocker from the Judgment of Paris! It pours a glistening leggy sun=kissed maize. The nose is complex and the mouthfeel acidic to start with just enough creamy oak bringing in toasted vanilla to wrap around apple and citrus with just a bit of floral essence. A tart finish benefits from keeping the temperature down, as the flowers become just a touch wilted and off with warmth. It seems a bit temperamental, but worth giving good care to enjoy.
A little oak on the nose with green tree in springtime. Palate of Granny Smith apple, kiwi, honeysuckle and notes of pear and apricot. Long finish. Enjoyed with wild Alaskan salmon.
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Oh, my! This is my kind of Chardonnay! Very apple-dominated nose, deep green-gold color. Full-bodied, not too sweet, nice apple and citrus flavors without too much oak, but a bit of bitterness on the finish (in a good way). I could drink this all day and still want more. This was on the menu at a local restaurant for $36! What a steal. Definitively a $50+ wine. Made the way California Chardonnay should be made, but seldom is. Highest recommendation.
A great expression of the Chardonnay grape. Very clean, pure fruit and very much built in a white Burgundian style. Kudos to Chateau Montelena for staying true to their wine making heritage vs. making a version of an oakey butter bomb that I often see coming from Cali Chardonnay.
I think I enjoyed this more on the cooler end of the spectrum, as the acidity and fruit delineation were more focused. Unmistakably California, this has ripe apples, a tiny note of honey, mountain stream, and warm hay. The palate is medium+ body, but the acids are plentiful and keep this balanced (unless it gets past 65F). I had a few glasses, so I must have enjoyed it :D recommended
PnP, served non-blind with appetizers on the deck.
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P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE oak/frt which is still QUITE tight as it slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt (80:20) finish with hints of bitterness & the down the line frt. Cellar into '20 min, then drink into & through its 10th! IMPRESSIVE, but NEEDS time to MAXIMIZE its "class". 13.6%ABV; My EXC-, but could well make SOME level of exceptionality... down the line. :) 92 pts Vinous & 88 WS. [Though beatable one place by $2, this vendor's $41.95 is VERY competitive in the currently RELATIVELY limited wine-searcher listings.]
Note: When last tried (after almost 3-1/2 hrs in a small tasting glass), I was gobsmacked as to just how MUCH this had opened & fleshed out! :)
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11/23/2023 - Phillips Family Cellar wrote:
Thanksgiving 2022
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9/9/2023 - enthusiastic_amateur Likes this wine: 87 Points
Agree with the previous comments about oakiness. There's just too much on this wine. However, the fruit and acid are quite good. The oak just brings the wine out of balance unfortunately.
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10/8/2022 - maxima wrote: 85 Points
Gros jus sur l'élevage et sur les amandes.
Gras et crêmeux avec une impression
de sucré. Vraiment de style moderne avec un
manque d'acidité. Ample et too much.
Maquillé pour plaire à un certain public....mais pas pour moi.
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3/3/2021 - Alex Brogan wrote: 92 Points
Really, really creamy although in told the malolactic fermentation is avoided. Nutty, tropical bananas and coconut. Juicy and delicious.
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2/26/2021 - mpdonnel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice classic Napa chard, probably a bit past peak. A bit flabby for my taste, lacking acidity, but nice fruit and integrated oak.
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2/20/2021 - Mielcarekwinelist Likes this wine:
Butterscotch.
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2/20/2021 - Mielcarekwinelist Likes this wine: 89 Points
Notes of butterscotch.
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1/11/2021 - srh Likes this wine:
Should you be interested, I’ve uploaded info for this vintage which you can peruse at your leisure. 😉
Private Preserve used after Day 1.
N: An attractive creaminess SLIGHTLY atop a melding of flowers, lemons, & spice
P: Med body; NICE melding of ALMOST swtish frt & oak met by a crisp acidity which needs food to bring the swt frt/oak forward, that 1st sip with victuals certainly tending to ease its way in before cleansing the palate with its acidity. I thought this food wine went QUITE well with COSTCO's Roasted Chx, Mashed Potatoes, & TJ's Whl Kernel Swt Corn, + I'm thinking it would do well with Cream Sauce Entrées? 13.6% ABV; My EXC-, & should drink into '24, possibly longer.
// Day 3: Served @ room temp (albeit cool); Still attractive, ~ aromas with their lemon/citrus aspect > prominent. P has not faded, working its way out of its mid-P firmness to an ult fairly pleasant, citrus tinged finish. Barely passable with Grilled Tilapia [too potent for me], better with TJ's Mushroom Risotto, & poss a go with the Grilled Salmon, though I didn't get to try that pairing.
∑: Sticking with Day 1's evaluation, though may well need something > substantial than simply grilled, mild seafood in order to attain it. Also, serve warmer rather than cooler. [As of mid Jan '21, wine-searcher still shows 3 sources @ $55].
Note: First tasted on 5/4/18
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1/10/2021 - Bobcat 31 Likes this wine: 90 Points
fun to drink
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1/8/2020 - rlove wrote: 90 Points
Juxtaposition from richer apple tones via the warmer vintage and the attempt to construct an early harvest, mineral-driven wine. Soft with mouth coating flavors of apple and candied lemon.
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1/7/2020 - Angel Lupercio Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is a beautiful light golden straw color with more than just inflections of green. The nose is composed of apples, wool, a light earthiness, mango, and fresh cut grass. The palate is excellent. I taste granny smith apples, lime and lemon zest, crushed rocks, alcohol, and maybe the slightest hint of dried apricots. The acidity is medium, complexity is medium (+), and the finish is medium (-) for a Chardonnay. This winery manages to do it right over and over again.
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10/11/2019 - vanderpee wrote: 90 Points
Solid wine but with a 'milky' touch. Perhaps this changes in coming years
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10/1/2019 - apg23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted in Napa. A very balanced Chardonnay. Tart and nice mouth feel. Nice wine for the price!
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8/3/2019 - tomoem Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well I must say that this wine is as awesome as I have found in a Napa Chardonnay for this price. The wine starts with a tasty but tart bitter sweet apple and quickly moves to citrus dominated. This wine is fruit forward and backed by a spine of acidity which could make it run to improve.
Overall I really liked it and think it could improve for another 1 year.
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7/28/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a treat to have a current reflection of the white shocker from the Judgment of Paris! It pours a glistening leggy sun=kissed maize. The nose is complex and the mouthfeel acidic to start with just enough creamy oak bringing in toasted vanilla to wrap around apple and citrus with just a bit of floral essence. A tart finish benefits from keeping the temperature down, as the flowers become just a touch wilted and off with warmth. It seems a bit temperamental, but worth giving good care to enjoy.
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5/2/2019 - Vasily Likes this wine: 98 Points
A little oak on the nose with green tree in springtime. Palate of Granny Smith apple, kiwi, honeysuckle and notes of pear and apricot. Long finish. Enjoyed with wild Alaskan salmon.
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4/26/2019 - BST24 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light Chardonnay
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3/24/2019 - Omar Khayyam wrote:
Dream Big - Discover California Wine Tasting (Stockholm, Gamla Riksarkivet (old government archives building) March 2019): Heavy piece compared to the Rhys chardonnays tasted at the same table. Very much in the oaked and creamy style, but good acidity so still rather balanced, just a bigger and more fruity and oaked chard.
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2/13/2019 - daver852 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Oh, my! This is my kind of Chardonnay! Very apple-dominated nose, deep green-gold color. Full-bodied, not too sweet, nice apple and citrus flavors without too much oak, but a bit of bitterness on the finish (in a good way). I could drink this all day and still want more. This was on the menu at a local restaurant for $36! What a steal. Definitively a $50+ wine. Made the way California Chardonnay should be made, but seldom is. Highest recommendation.
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1/26/2019 - SuperJavi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Potent alcohol, smooth, not too buttery, long finish, refreshing
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10/20/2018 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A great expression of the Chardonnay grape. Very clean, pure fruit and very much built in a white Burgundian style. Kudos to Chateau Montelena for staying true to their wine making heritage vs. making a version of an oakey butter bomb that I often see coming from Cali Chardonnay.
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9/30/2018 - Smregan Likes this wine:
Good
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8/17/2018 - walla_wallou Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great, nice fruit, citrus note, good length.
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7/25/2018 - Yagil wrote: 89 Points
Fish dinner at Shalom Mellul (Gan- Yavneh): pleasant chardonnay
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6/8/2018 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
I think I enjoyed this more on the cooler end of the spectrum, as the acidity and fruit delineation were more focused. Unmistakably California, this has ripe apples, a tiny note of honey, mountain stream, and warm hay. The palate is medium+ body, but the acids are plentiful and keep this balanced (unless it gets past 65F). I had a few glasses, so I must have enjoyed it :D recommended
PnP, served non-blind with appetizers on the deck.
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5/4/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [1 Rosé, 3 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 5/4/2018 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Attractive sandalwood, smoke, lemons, & vanilla
P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE oak/frt which is still QUITE tight as it slowly, fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt (80:20) finish with hints of bitterness & the down the line frt. Cellar into '20 min, then drink into & through its 10th! IMPRESSIVE, but NEEDS time to MAXIMIZE its "class". 13.6%ABV; My EXC-, but could well make SOME level of exceptionality... down the line. :) 92 pts Vinous & 88 WS. [Though beatable one place by $2, this vendor's $41.95 is VERY competitive in the currently RELATIVELY limited wine-searcher listings.]
Note: When last tried (after almost 3-1/2 hrs in a small tasting glass), I was gobsmacked as to just how MUCH this had opened & fleshed out! :)
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