TN: Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1997

WINE TALK
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Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1997:
My parents moved last November into a new place. My father didn’t move his cellar until this summer. Sometimes, when you are moving a cellar, you stumble upon bottles like this. This was not necessarily meant for long term storage***** but he figured it was worth a shot at dinner on Saturday night. The color was honey gold and the nose was full of baked apples and pears and toasted nuts. In the glass the aromas faded quickly and the wine almost instantly lost most its feeble breath. Sloshing around inside the mouth, holding out hope for some flavor residue was almost fruitless. Though it was possible to detect some essence of lemon, dried orange peel and then nothing. Of well, there were other wines that night. Hope no one else is hanging on to any of these. 73 points

***** To be honest I don’t think this wine was very good in the first place.

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Can we start a “Premox in California Chardonnay” thread? Pretty please!

hitsfan

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Interesting aside, I had a 2000 out of magnum a few months back that was great!

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I had the 97 3 years ago, showed better than yours:
This was all oak and lemony acids at first, just blown away by the Burg. But it actually rounded and integrated with a little time, with the oak seeming more subdued and the acids more refined. Not my favorite Montelena Chard of all time,but nice enough

Not surprising there’s bottle variation is Chardonnay at this age. I generally like the Montelena Chard (it seems to have a fair amount of oak, but doesn’t see malo, or at least most doesn’t). But 12 years is probably pushing it (although I had the '98 last week, also more lively than your '97).

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I’ve had a couple Mags of the 1994 in the past 2 yrs…of which one even showed signs of leakage…they both rocked!!! Montelena Chard ages very very well…I would be suspect of that bottle of 1997??? It should be better than what John describes imo.

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Brian,

One of these days, we should drink together. I will pour swill, just to see the rating you give it! Maybe Sierra Carche.

Seriously, one of these days…

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Do the Steelers play the Jets this year??? I’d be game! Hey, I can’t help it if I like most EVERYTHING! But swill is swill…even I know that! [friends.gif]

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Buzz, you’re a Steelers fan?!! [dance-clap.gif] I knew you had good taste!

Apologies for thread drift.