1988 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 88.9 points

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  7/14/2013 - aaronfeigin Likes this wine: 91 Points

  This is a beautiful golden apple cider color in the glass. A great example that proves american Chardonnay can age with the best French whites. It is beautiful in the glass, on the nose, and on the palate as well. Wish I had more of this to enjoy, but sadly it is my last bottle.

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  5/25/2013 - oldwines Likes this wine: 98 Points

  There is a reason I keep quality Chardonnay for longer than most people consider prudent and this bottle justified it! I fully expected this to be totally gone like my previous bottle. It was my last bottle and I brought it up from the cellar along with another older wine...1996 Matanzas Creek Sonoma Chard hoping one would be good. I was amazed that both were Great! The Montelena was bright clear straw yellow, showing no sign of oxidation, giving me goosebumps immediately. The smell was of tropical fruit, vanilla, lemon and pineapple with no hint of oxidation. The wine was rich and unctuous on the tongue and buttery along with the slight citrus and pineapple. Extraordinarily well balanced. It peaked about an hour after opening and started to decline gradually over the next hour plus. The aftertaste lasted a solid 45 seconds and added some butterscotch and yeast and just a hint of oxidation at the end. This was one of the most astounding bottles of old Cali Chard I have ever had. It was amazing with several artisan cheeses. Some of my friends think I'm crazy but this was one of the most exquisite white wines I have ever had!

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  12/13/1991 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 88 Points

  At Singer & Foy survey of Château Montelena. Fine straw color. Juicy tropical fruit in the nose, along with vanilla and spearmint. The mouth is a bit lean and austere. A real surprise after the nose. 5-12-14-7: 88/100

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  9/29/1990 - MicklethePickle wrote: 79 Points

  With MPL at Singer and Foy survey of new Californians. Gold/green. Brilliant. Nose seems a bit off. Metallic? Good mouthful, decent body. Oaky, though. Not so hot. 5-7-12-5: 79/100.

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  9/1/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 83 Points

  Tasting 4 Chateau Montelena Our Fifth Open House. featured a big, fruity nose and in the mouth was a rich explosion of chardonnay fruit-tasted with the Vegetable Pate en Croute, perfect pairing of flavors, long finish, medium body that is well balanced.

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