Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 333,040 strong:

Register Today!

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2014 Wine Review

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2014

Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2014

Napa Valley, California, United States

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 5

  Add My Review


Price: $132.00

Drink: 2015-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 13.7%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: White Wine


Winery: Chateau Montelena

Agent: Rogers & Company

Natalie's Score: 89/100

Full-bodied with toasted almond and hazelnut and smoke from oak aging. Green apple brightness on the palate with mouth-watering acidity.

Chardonnay food pairings: seared scallops, grilled seafood, stuffed roast chicken.

Sensational Shellfish Wine

This Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2014 was reviewed on May 28, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2018  2017  2016  2015  2013 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Rich and full-bodied with a perfect amount of bright acidity that keeps this wine from being fat. There are oak influences to be sure but this Napa Chardonnay still maintains it's elegance. Fresh cut apple, tropical fruit and lees are followed by butter, toast, toffee, vanilla and citrus. The finish is lengthy and decadently smooth. Reaching almost 14% abv but not hot. This can be enjoyed over the next 10 years. Happy Father's Day!
Tasted: May 2016
Greg Hughes rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Drinking this is like indulging in Napa winemaking history. This was one of the wines that began converting popular prejudice about new world wines at the judgement in Paris. Mike Grgich, Montelena's winemaker at the time, went on to establish his own celebrated winery.
This Chardonnay came from a pretty good year (harvested early) and spent 10 months in some heavy duty French oak barrels. This wine is young and has been known to last over a decade. There is no rush, but it is scintilating right now.
Pretty pale/medium lemon colouration and potent aromas. Chardonnay isn't the most forthcoming wine for aromas, but this one smells like green pear, sorrel, and honey jumping out at you. For all of the oak, it carried it well.
You won't notice a big, fat buttery body, if that is what you look for. More of a ruminating toastiness and juiciness.
Excellent taste experience. It's concentrated, structured well (good acidity), and everything is integrated smoothly. The oak is not too much. It's subtle and the fruit show off their complexity well. Lots more pear, baked apple, toasted wood, honey, creme brulee, and lemon juice.
Reputations are earned and built upon. This wine was part of Napa's coming of age. It was a lesson to other new world wine regions, like Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.
It pairs extremely well now with a salad full of kale, cabbage, dried fruit, and sunflower seeds. It would also work with lobster, pulled pork, or turkey.
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A full-bodied Napa Chard with butterscotch, ripe tropical fruit and toasted oak throughout, plus banana, lemon/lime and guava on the very rich, creamy palate.
This Californian Chardonnay was featured in the movie Bottle Shock. This 2014 vintage of this Chardonnay from Napa is full-bodied. Montelena has managed to produce a pleasant, balanced Chardonnay. - Community Wine Reviews

If you liked the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2014, you might also like these wines:

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Wander + Found Sparkling Wine
Sparkling CuveƩ Blanc Can

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 333,040 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award