The Chardonnay 2020 Chateau Montelena

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Robert Parker (93)

The 2020 Chardonnay was released in October 2022. As usual, it's a non-malolactic fermentation wine, matured in a relatively small proportion of new French oak, and so it reveals hints of apple, tangerine and lime on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it's sappy, a bit linear and vibrant on the palate, finishing crisp and long. I've capped the aging estimate at a decade, but past vintages have aged successfully for 20 years or more, depending on your preferences.

Decanter (93)

Streaks of tart papaya and kiwi are offset by a seductively briny, steely undertow here. Pert in fruit profile yet nuanced with an earthy, saline minerality and reverberating lime acidity, it's a wine that should mature well through this decade at least.

BOW (8.25)