California White Wine Monticello Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2005 has aromatics of pears, peaches and apricots. This Chardonnay white wine blend is focused primarily around fruit and soft natural texture so sparing use of new oak and malolactic fermentation was utilized with this vintage. The mouthfeel is well balanced, carrying the pear and peach flavors across the palate, ending with a rich finish. Monticello Vineyards Chardonnay 2005 is a great example of how the different rootstock and soil combination create a most harmonious white wine. In the blend, Monticello has wine from each chardonnay block on their Estate. As each of these blocks has a different character, the Corley family took a slightly different wine making approach. Some, have utilized malolactic fermentation; others have received a higher percentage of new oak. Most were fermented with native yeasts from their vineyard and cellar. All the grapes were pushed to full ripeness and the rich flavors and aromas are evidence. They have put together a wine that, while rich and satisfying, still maintains a balanced and appropriate acidity for pairing with a wide variety of foods. The wine is best enjoyed chilled. Drink now through 2011,

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The Corley Family’s Monticello Vineyards is an innovative and acclaimed limited production estate winery located in Napa Valley, California. All of their wines have won innumerable awards over the last 25 years, been honored as top 100 wines by the major publications, have been served in the White House and have honored the Academy Awards. Jay Corley came to Napa Valley in 1969 seeking land to plant and grow an estate vineyard. Thirty-five plus years later, sons Kevin, Chris and Stephen manage the winery. This small winery produces about 15,000 cases of wine annually designated MONTICELLO VINEYARDS, CORLEY RESERVE and CORLEY. In 1969 Jay Corley began searching for an appropriate site to grow wine grapes and quickly recognized that the best wines in the United States were made from grapes grown in the Napa Valley. Since his personal interest was in Burgundian-style wines, he chose to initially focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and therefore acquired land in what is now known as the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley in 1970. The Oak Knoll District is in southern Napa Valley, just north of the town of Napa, and with its cooler temperatures, the Oak Knoll District is ideal for growing these varietals. In 1980, a winemaker started to oversee the harvest and crushing of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes for MONTICELLO VINEYARDS wines. In 1982, the winery was moved into a state of the art winery in the Home Ranch Vineyard and also produced the first CORLEY RESERVE wines. MONTREAUX Brut followed in 1983, Pinot Noir in 1984, Merlot in 1990, CORLEY Proprietary Red Wine in 1999; Cabernet Franc in 2003 and Syrah in 2004. The over-riding philosophy is that great wines are made in the vineyards. That is why they have made such a tremendous commitment to ownership of the most suitable land for grapes. Already satisfied with the strength and quality of the Oak Knoll estates for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they set out in pursuit of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the warmer districts of Napa Valley. Today they farm five vineyards in the Napa Valley - the Home Ranch Vineyard and Knollwood Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District planted to Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah vines, and the State Lane Vineyard in Yountville, Tietjen Vineyard on Niebaum Lane in Rutherford and Ehlers Lane Vineyard in St. Helena, each planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Monticello winery has received numerous awards and high reviews, which has led to a short supply of their wines.

RATINGS: 86 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"The ’05 is a good wine, a little thin in peach and pineapple fruit, with a strong overlay of toasty, spice oak and a vanilla cream mouthfeel."

91 Points - Cork'd
"Golden color. On the nose, buttered toast, with a hint of tapioca pudding, (yes, really). Smooth, creamy taste. I guessed, correctly, that there is some malolactic fermentation involved. While this is more than I like to spend on a chard, it is very, very good."