Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Ridge Vineyards — Estate Chardonnay 2023
Monte Bello Estate, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Chardonnay from Ridge’s Monte Bello Estate, high in the Santa Cruz Mountains and strongly influenced by the cool Pacific. The exceptionally long, cool 2023 growing season preserved freshness and varietal character, while barrel fermentation followed by nine months on the lees added texture and dimension. At 14.1% ABV, it carries surprising substance without sacrificing its cool-climate identity.

Aromas & Flavors
Fresh lemon, yellow apple, pear, citrus blossom, and subtle stone fruit unfold gradually, joined by mineral notes, gentle vanilla, and restrained barrel nuances. Air brings out additional layers without turning the wine overtly oaky.

Mouthfeel
Beautifully texturized yet remarkably fresh. Bright acidity provides tension while lees aging gives the mid-palate a gentle creaminess and polished weight. It keeps evolving after opening, moving between delicacy, mineral energy, and increasingly expressive fruit.

Food Pairings
Excellent alone, but equally comfortable with scallops, lobster, grilled halibut, roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, or richer seafood preparations. Its combination of acidity and texture lets it pivot effortlessly between sipping and serious cuisine.

Verdict
A fascinating expression of mountain-grown California Chardonnay. Delicate yet substantial, refreshing yet textural, it demonstrates how a cool Pacific-influenced site can deliver ripeness without sacrificing precision or energy.

Did You Know?
Monte Bello sits high above Silicon Valley on the Santa Cruz Mountains ridge, with vineyards exposed to significant Pacific influence. Ridge notes that 2023 was one of its longest and coolest recent growing seasons; the extended harvest helped preserve acidity while allowing slow flavor development—the tension you can genuinely feel in this Chardonnay.

🍷 Personal Pick
This sits comfortably among my favorite coastal-influenced Northern California Chardonnays. What gets me is the evolution: refreshing and delicate at first, then progressively more textural and expressive as it opens. It has enough finesse to enjoy completely on its own and enough structure to sit beside fine cuisine. That versatility, without losing its cool-climate personality, is what makes this one special. — a day ago

Jason Sliwa

8.9

Good character but not inspiring. Unidimensional. — 4 years ago

with Vicki

Rhonely Boy

9.1

Very nice Santa Cruz Zin. — 5 years ago

Uli Klumpp

9.1

2014 Clone 13 - This one is ready, probably still on the upswing for 3-5 more years. Pronounced acidity, starting to feel Burgundian. — 5 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

Aged Cab flight- replacement for the flawed 1979. Fill into the neck, although the cork was pretty fragile. Still dark and good life in it. The Gemello and Woodside were nice historical references for Santa Clara Valley and northern Santa Cruz Mountain AVA wines. — 8 years ago

Sarah Lindberg

9.4

Wonderful and I felt lucky to enjoy. Great body. Perfect steak wine — 9 years ago

Roberto Carli

9.5

This is a wonderful expression of Santa Cruz Mountain Cab, caught in a state of absolute grace. I might be lucky with the specific bottle but it's really shining through like a mini superstar. Small red and black fruits are still preserved in a dusty state, in harmony with the emerging leather, pipe tobacco, and graphite, strikingat great balance between freshness and complexity. The nose is giving a preview of the palate, where the canines show completely evolved, silkyyet substantial. Again, lucky me, because it's in a state of grace. — 25 days ago

Ericsson

9.7

Yes—exactly that kind of wine: timeless, composed, and quietly authoritative.

It smells so good on first pour. Damp pine forest floor and clean mountain air register immediately. Everything else unravels from there; but that initial pop-and-pour sniff is pure magic.

On the palate, blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs unfold with control, carried by freshness and finely etched tannins in a medium body.

So classic, so intellectual, and deeply mesmerizing. Drink now or age. — 9 months ago

Andrew Formi

9.4

Opened 4 hrs prior. Reminiscent of a J Phelps 85 insignia — 4 years ago

Gene Buonviri

9.4

I don’t appreciate buttery and oaky Chardonnay. This excellent Chardonnay has reduced the traditional characters and highlights
notes of honeysuckle,apple and Meyer lemon. Flavors of sickle pear, citrus and a dash of salt. A subtle blend of mineral and acidity. Excellent pairing with Thanksgiving. — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

Nutty, with great acid — 6 years ago

Steve Smith

9.3

Fruit forward, mild, plum and cherry, smooth, not a long on the palate. — 8 years ago

Dan Thomas

9.5

Wow. Supper awesome example of Santa Cruz mountain fruit. Light on its feet with killler precise fruit. Supple tannins and a lengthy finish. — 9 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.5

I loved this. A Trout Gulch on steroids but in the best way. The weight , intensity and finish were all ratcheted up. 8 years in and the acidity was still bracing. The palate had so many Chablis like flavors. — 4 months ago

Seth Masterson

9.3

2022 Coast Grade Vineyard
A good year for Coast Grade grapes.
The nose makes my mouth water - a sense of crunchy mineral and freshly dried raspberries and the perfect balance of new:used French oak all lead to IMO a sophisticated youthful wine.
Acids are on the light side which lets those raspberry notes and sur lie texture run down the back of your tongue gracefully. A wonderful finish with a touch of... oak bark funkiness. — 2 years ago

Peter James

9.0

Merry Christmas — 5 years ago

Uli Klumpp

9.1

2016 Bacchus - Multi-clonal blend, more exuberant on the nose, classic Pinot aroma. More polished on the palate - ready to go. — 5 years ago

Therese Rothfelder

8.9

Loved all of the Flores Wines from the wine fair. Wine maker was super rad too. — 7 years ago

Amanda Thomas

9.4

Absolutely delicious, smooth, juicy dark berry. — 8 years ago

with Tim

Jon Ruyle

9.2

Dark mountain fruit and lots of complexity. Love the style. — 9 years ago