2022 Napa Valley Chardonnay, Chateau Montelena

Chateau Montelena shot to fame in 1976 at the iconic Judgement of Paris which shook the wine world to its core when their 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay won first place against an enviable line-up of top French Burgundies. The result was a shock to the wine trade Chateau Montelena shot to fame in 1976 at the iconic Judgement of Paris which shook the wine world to its core when their 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay won first place against an enviable line-up of top French Burgundies. The result was a shock to the wine trade all over the world and it changed the history of Californian wine and Chateau Montelena forever. They have been making top class wine for over 40 years and have firmly established themselves as an iconic Napa Valley estate. Interestingly the Barretts, owners and chief winemakers here for two generations, have always seen red winemaking as their true calling, but the legend of the 1973 Chardonnay will live on forever.

The charming Bo Barrett took the reins from his father Jim after learning his trade and continues his legacy with vigour and a lot of cheeky quips along the way. He calls himself one of the last `no voodoo` winemakers, explaining that nowadays in California there is a tendency to overthink the process. Instead, he keeps it simple, giving the estate the tagline “A family-owned company that follows the weather”! Bo`s laidback and jovial attitude belies the meticulous and conscientious man beneath the surface. However, shrouded in chilled out, Californian surfer dude charm as he is, he makes a good point – in a temperate climate like this, if you have the terroir, you let the vines do the work and interfere with them as little as possible.