Montelena Sale Falls Through

 Historic Chateau Montelena, in Napa Valley's Calistoga, will remain in U.S. hands, after a sale to the owner of Bordeaux property Cos d'Estournel failed to materialize.
 
Calistoga, Calif.--The widely publicized sale of Napa Valley icon Chateau Montelena to Bordeaux winery owner Michel Reybier has fallen through. Originally announced in July as a "firm deal," a news release from Chateau Montelena this morning stated that the sale agreement was terminated because "Reybier Investments has been unable to meet its obligations with the Barrett family."

Neither managing general partner Jim Barrett nor master winemaker and limited partner Bo Barrett were available for further comment about the latest development. Chateau Montelena director of marketing Jeff Adams said he could not comment on either the original terms of sale, nor the reasons underlying the unexpected outcome. Vic Motto, chief executive of Global Wine Partners, credited with helping to broker the deal, also refused to comment. A sale price had never been revealed.

Adams did confirm that, as stated in the news release, Chateau Montelena's management team would remain in place, including Jim and Bo Barrett, managing director Greg Ralston, winemaker Cameron Parry and vineyard manager Dave Vella. According to the release, the Barretts will not be putting the winery back on the market.

Chateau Montelena is housed in a 127-year-old estate, which the Barretts acquired in 1972. It leaped into the limelight in the notorious 1976 "Judgement of Paris," in which its 1973 Chardonnay was deemed superior to comparable French vintages. This year it served as inspiration for the fictionalized version of that tasting in the film "Bottle Shock." It currently produces 35,000 cases per year from 200 acres of estate vineyard.