Pronounce Montelena?

in article snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com, JK at snipped-for-privacy@nospam.com wrote on

I would agree with Hunt. It's Mahn - Teh - Lay- Nah.

As to the '98 Chardonnay...... I liked it enough to have 2 bottles, which I think I bought at the winery, before I realized I could get it for less locally. Two things come from that:

1. If I liked it it is not overly Oak-y.

1. I should follow this thread to see how much longer I can hold onto it without drinking.

The pronunciation given by the others is correct: "Mont" to rhyme with "haunt" and "el" like the letter and "ena" as in "heinous." As it happens, I was at the winery last Friday and tasted the '98 Chardonnay then. I am in the middle of transcribing my notes, but here's the one you want:

color: golden-straw nose: a hint of butter (!) and apples palate: crisp entry, followed by flavors of slightly oxidized apple and lemon, finishing cleanly

If I had tasted this wine blind, I would have guessed that it was a minor white Burgundy from a good year. I think that it will still develop more and be an excellent accompaniment for food.

Mark Lipton

] JK wrote: ] > How do you pronounce Chateau "Montelena?" Does anyone have notes on the 98 ] > Chardonnay? Thank you. ] > ] > JK ] > ] > ] The pronunciation given by the others is correct: "Mont" to rhyme with ] "haunt" and "el" like the letter and "ena" as in "heinous." As it [snip useful notes]

Mark, we agree as to how it's pronounced. The problem in your explanation is that you don't specify that you pronounce (as do I) heinous to rhyme with, well, uranus. I have heard some in the US pronounce it "heenus", to rhyme with, well ... :)

-E

Think of "All For Leyna"

Dana

Rhymes with Lotte Lenya.

Ch Montelena besides winning the famous competition in the mid 70's--makes a very long lasting chard as does Mile Grgch the original winemaker, in blind tasting the Napa or Napa & Alexander bottling were significantly better than Chalone, Robert Young and other oaky monsters 5 years after vintage. I always though that Ch Montelena, Stony Hill and Hanzell were the most burgundian of the early chard masters.

"Hi Mark ... what about the unfiltered Thunder Mountain Chard ???

Hi, Art! Good to have you back here BTW. I've never seen or heard of Thunder Mountain, but I'll have to look for some if you think that it resembles the others. Thankfully, Chablis hasn't become too expensive,

but it's always nice to find domestic wines in that style."

Art, I don't know if you knew it, but Milan Maximovich (aka Milan in Santa Cruz) died last year. Mark, Thunder Mountain is definitely a Santa Cruz winery worth looking for. I've quite enjoyed both the Bates Ranch cab and the Star Ruby blend. My one taste of one of their Chardonnay's reminded me of GC Chablis (some oak, but lots of acidity). Count me as a fan of the Montelena Chards (unlike Ian!). Dale

there is nice rememberance of Milan here:

bob