100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 68 Chateau Montelena

Blog 68 Chateau Montelena





Chateau Montelena Winery is famous for winning the Judgment of Paris Tasting in 1976 with their 1973 Chardonnay. One of my favorite wine movies is Bottleshock, which tells the story of Jim and Bo Barrett. Be sure to watch it, you will like it.



The winery and property at Chateau Montelena are incredible. The building is beautiful and yes, it is the one that they used in the movie. Some of the filming took place on the property located in Calistoga, California in North Napa Valley.





The tasting rooms were crowded. I made my way to the library room and tried some wines there without feeling crowded. If I would have had to try their wines in the regular room, it would have been difficult with their popularity.



They also poured me a 1991 Calistoga Cuvee but no 1973 Chardonnay. However, they did keep a bottle of the famous wine under glass that they showed on display with all of the correspondence in a book from the Paris Tasting.





My favorite wines there were the 2007 Chardonnay Napa Valley at $50.00 and their 2006Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley at $45.00.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 7 Laird Family Estate

7. Laird Family Estate, it’s all in the name. Planting grapes since 1970. This single family owned vineyard is one of the largest vineyards in the Napa Valley area with over 2000 acres of grapes grown.

Early clients were grand, pioneer wineries such as Mondavi, Inglenook and Beringer. As the years and reputation of Napa Valley vintners grew, smaller, ultra premium wineries such as Cakebread, Merryvale, Chappellet, Far Niente, Joseph Phelps and Duckhorn asked for Laird grapes. Sonoma wineries such as Kendall Jackson purchased Laird grapes as well as Ravenswood, and Chateau St. Jean who also became clients.

Laird uses about 1% of their grapes to produce about 12,000 cases of Laird Family Estate wine with Paul Hobbs as consulting winemaker. A quick stop out of your journey leads you to a breathtaking view and spectacular wine you will remember.

In the past 7 years that I have been going to Napa, I have never missed a visit to Laird. Robert has been in the tasting room for 10 years and I wonder if he ever goes home. Their whites include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. They have a vast array of reds including Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

You may want to become a club member to get some of their special wines. The 2005 Napa Valley Laird Red Wine called Jillian’s Blend made with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Syrah. Deep garnet color followed by aromas of tobacco, violets and blackberry. Bright fruit flavors of Satsuma plums and black cherry. Medium bodied, with a nice integration of oak and berry fruit. The fruit finishes with little black pepper, cocoa and chewy tannins. I had to buy extras of this choice. Although they have since sold out of the 2005 Jillian’s Blend, they are soon to release the 2007. You can’t go wrong if you are looking for true Californian whites or reds with grapes grown from all across the valley. After tasting Laird wine, it is no wonder why premium wineries purchase their grapes.

Bon Vin!
Veronica