Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley 2019 750ml

Bright gold in color and incredibly aromatic, the ripeness of the vintage is most pronounced initially; melon, perfume, and orange blossom slowly give way to fresh peach, honeysuckle and apricot. Theres very little overt oak influence on the nose, although it comes across subtly in the background as pie crust and toast.

Its the suppleness and silky mouthfeel that strike first, although theres abundant mango and citrus with Meyer lemon here as well. The minerality is chalky and distinct, a beautiful contrast that layers in with the acid adding both complexity and depth.

Theres slightly more wood on the transition to the finish, surfacing as baking spice and crme brle. However, theyre handily overwhelmed by notes of Asian pear, mango and pineappleabsolutely delicious. In time, expect hazelnut and almond to appear.