Frey's Cat Ranch (Somewhere in the Northern Burbs, MN): Light green gold color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. Stone fruits, pear, peach, floral, medium bodied, modest oak, a bit flashy yet elegant. I always appreciate the style at Montelena, there's always a finesse and restraint here. This is good now and will be a bit better in another 2 years. 91+ to 92pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweet stone fruit on the nose Light minerality, not fruit dominant at all. Zesty acidity but not very citric in style or flavor. I prefer the a bit more fruit in my Chardonnay but well done an a long lasting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
very well balanced. Slight oak but not overpowering. Quince, pear and apple fruit. Good minerality. Long finish. Temperature sensitive. Seems to be best at about 53-55 degrees.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gold/Straw in the glass with nice viscosity. The nose is gorgeous, with a balanced lemon/lime aroma, white flower blossoms, and minerals. The palate confirms the lime and lemon citrus, along with green apple and stone fruits. There is a wet-stone minerality that reminds me of Chablis. The wine is medium bodied, with medium-plus alcohol and high, mouth-watering acidity. Medium finish. This is a very good wine that has the potential to age over the next 3 years. The cost is high, but there are very few California (and Oregon) chardonnays that truly match the style and quality of good French white Burgundy like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose is green apple, lemon, sulfur, vanilla dominate. There is hint of tropical guava which I’m not a huge fan of, but typical for Napa’s hot vintages. Medium bodied. Great salinity and lean finish. Very enjoyable summer drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruit of citrus, lime and plenty of oak that adds smoke and a wooden flavor. Maybe a few herbal notes in the mix, but faint. Fortunately, more crisp with citric freshness on the palate. But otherwise limited aromatics. First encounter with the Chard from Montelena. In the 2020 vintage at least this felt somewhat heavy-handed and plump, probably due to overly generous use of oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pale yellow color. Med(+) youthful aromas of flint, peach, apricot, apple, lemon, kumquat. Med body, dry, high acidity, long finish. Fresh but creamy with some reductive character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Its a nice pale lemon with restrained notes of white peaches, a little citrus, a little vanilla and overall clean, elegant and restrained. Aware of the pedigree its obviously beautifully constructed but a blind tasting could dismiss it for a more expressive wine. However it has good length and very correct flavours so is rather satisfying with our meal. Same concerns upon tasting where the pedigree shows restraint but lacking impact. So I think a few years cellaring would be beneficial.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a restaurant menu and not my choice. Some tropical fruit, medium bodied, fairly simplistic. Needs some age and probably not my favorite style of chard.
5/5/2024 - DTK Rockstar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Complex. Lightly buttery notes but not too much. Yellow apple. Cake notes?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2024 - El_Dougo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Restrained. Chalky minerality. A whiff of ripe tree fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2024 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Frey's Cat Ranch (Somewhere in the Northern Burbs, MN): Light green gold color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. Stone fruits, pear, peach, floral, medium bodied, modest oak, a bit flashy yet elegant. I always appreciate the style at Montelena, there's always a finesse and restraint here. This is good now and will be a bit better in another 2 years. 91+ to 92pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2024 - Raywilliams420 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sweet stone fruit on the nose Light minerality, not fruit dominant at all. Zesty acidity but not very citric in style or flavor. I prefer the a bit more fruit in my Chardonnay but well done an a long lasting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2024 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Paired nicely with sushi. I’ve had better Montelena Chardonnays, but this is very good but a tad bit more new world in style than prior vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2024 - whudock Likes this wine: 92 Points
very well balanced. Slight oak but not overpowering. Quince, pear and apple fruit. Good minerality. Long finish. Temperature sensitive. Seems to be best at about 53-55 degrees.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2023 - Spth115 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delightfully crisp yet smooth! An awesome light bodied Chardonnay from Napa!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2023 - Jrkeene7 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Gold/Straw in the glass with nice viscosity. The nose is gorgeous, with a balanced lemon/lime aroma, white flower blossoms, and minerals. The palate confirms the lime and lemon citrus, along with green apple and stone fruits. There is a wet-stone minerality that reminds me of Chablis. The wine is medium bodied, with medium-plus alcohol and high, mouth-watering acidity. Medium finish. This is a very good wine that has the potential to age over the next 3 years. The cost is high, but there are very few California (and Oregon) chardonnays that truly match the style and quality of good French white Burgundy like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2023 - jgreco Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nose is green apple, lemon, sulfur, vanilla dominate. There is hint of tropical guava which I’m not a huge fan of, but typical for Napa’s hot vintages. Medium bodied. Great salinity and lean finish. Very enjoyable summer drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2023 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 88 Points
I mostly concur with TAKAO's notes
Pale yellow color. Young with intrigue. Wasn't wowed, but would try again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 89 Points
Fruit of citrus, lime and plenty of oak that adds smoke and a wooden flavor. Maybe a few herbal notes in the mix, but faint. Fortunately, more crisp with citric freshness on the palate. But otherwise limited aromatics. First encounter with the Chard from Montelena. In the 2020 vintage at least this felt somewhat heavy-handed and plump, probably due to overly generous use of oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2023 - Spth115 wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding light-body Napa Chardonnay !
Very smooth finish!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2023 - Pfilippetti wrote:
Italian mussels 😊
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2023 - Takao wrote: 91 Points
Pale yellow color. Med(+) youthful aromas of flint, peach, apricot, apple, lemon, kumquat. Med body, dry, high acidity, long finish. Fresh but creamy with some reductive character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2023 - F1NUT Likes this wine: 90 Points
Its a nice pale lemon with restrained notes of white peaches, a little citrus, a little vanilla and overall clean, elegant and restrained. Aware of the pedigree its obviously beautifully constructed but a blind tasting could dismiss it for a more expressive wine. However it has good length and very correct flavours so is rather satisfying with our meal. Same concerns upon tasting where the pedigree shows restraint but lacking impact. So I think a few years cellaring would be beneficial.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2022 - Decanting Queen wrote: 88 Points
From a restaurant menu and not my choice. Some tropical fruit, medium bodied, fairly simplistic. Needs some age and probably not my favorite style of chard.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)