At the table with Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
Roast scallops with citrus butter, grilled lobster, sole fillet with almonds, free-range chicken with tarragon cream, 12-month Comté.
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Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022Chateau Montelena
This cuvée is made by a historic estate in Calistoga, in the north of the Napa Valley, in California, at the foot of Mount Saint Helena. The valley, open to the south onto San Pablo Bay, enjoys a Mediterranean climate tempered by sea breezes and fog. In 2022, the season began early and cool, before a rather mild summer, and most of the Chardonnay was picked before the heatwave of early September.
The grapes were harvested from 20 August to 7 September. After vinification, the wine is aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, 25% of them new, then bottled in July 2023. Above all, the estate seeks to faithfully convey the vintage and the vineyard, without an imposed style, in a constant pursuit of precision.
This wine reveals notes of peach, apricot, kiwi, orange blossom, melon, mandarin, Meyer lemon, lemon verbena, pear and cinnamon. The pure, intense nose blends ripe fruit and freshly cut flowers. The palate, still taut and linear, hints at biscuit and toast, before a finish of pear, lemon zest and a touch of peppery ginger.
Where are we traveling?
Napa ValleyUnited States
It lies an hour's drive north of San Francisco, nestled between the Vaca Mountains to the east and the Mayacamas to the west, forming a narrow valley barely 50 kilometres long. The vineyards stretch from the cool, foggy south near the marshes of San Pablo Bay to the hot, enclosed north around the small town of Calistoga, passing through the legendary villages of Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. The valley's winegrowing history began in the 1830s with George Yount, but it was the Judgement of Paris in 1976 that propelled Napa onto the world stage, when a Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars outscored the greatest French crus in a blind tasting. The climate is Mediterranean, hot and dry in summer, tempered by morning fogs that roll in from the bay and sweep up the valley, giving the grapes the cool nights essential to their balance. The diversity of soils is remarkable, from the alluvial deposits of the valley floor to the volcanic rocks of the hillsides, with no fewer than sixteen distinct sub-appellations. Napa Valley has become the world benchmark for Cabernet Sauvignon thanks to opulent, concentrated wines of exceptional longevity, complemented by full, generous Chardonnay, silky Merlot and a handful of Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel that bear witness to the richness of a terroir that has become legendary.
The little history of the country
United States
In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...).
In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public.
Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.
All about Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
At what temperature should Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022 be served?
Between 10 and 12 °C.
How long can Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022 be kept?
Ageing potential: 5 to 10 years, until around 2032. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022?
Grapes: 100% Chardonnay. Origin: California, United States. Alcohol: 13.8%.
What to serve with Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022?
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022 pairs well with shellfish, hard cheese, white fish and white meat. Our dish ideas are in the food pairing box at the top of the page.