For almost 20 years, the Chateau Montelena team has farmed most of their own Chardonnay vineyards, making every decision from pruning to harvest. It’s a real winemaking-in-the-vineyard approach. This is a vineyard-oriented winery that argues that a skilled team can maneuver the challenges that distinguish good years from bad by decoding the soil, vineyard, and region through the lens of the fruit. While it may be all about creativity and perspective, there are undeniably details and nuance that set each growing season apart and make certain vintages special.

It’s an unfined, unfiltered Chardonnay, aged ten months in French oak. It remains true to the finely-balanced Montelena style: pure fruit flavours, no malolactic fermentation, little-if-any yeast stirring, and judicious use of new oak.

The nose is dominated by ripe peach, pear, and cloves, with subtle floral honeysuckle notes. There’s a nice fullness and weight to the focused palate, punctuated by melon, green apple, fresh citrus, and a hint of vanilla. The wine’s density is readily apparent, and the creamy texture lingers on the finish.

“A classic Burgundian white that’s elegant and restrained, with butter, lees, candied citrus and cantaloupe aromas. Full-bodied, it shows a broad palate with weight, silkiness, zesty acidity and a toasty, super-polished finish. Drink now.”
96 points, Aldo Fiordelli, James Suckling, November 2025

“A wonderfully bright through-line of fresh citrus peel and early-season apple, driven by crunchy acidity and taut, tart flavours. There’s real generosity beneath that precision, exploding across the palate with effusive white floral notes and crushed almond nuances. Signature briny salinity comes through clearly, some lemon oil, followed by a flicker of underripe pineapple on the finish. Already complex and deeply enticing, yet clearly built for the long haul.”
95 points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter, January 2026