Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2020

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. Drink date: 2023-2030. Score – 93. (Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com, March 31, 2023)