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. — 4 days ago

Steve Anderson

9.3

Labor Day Dinner #2, main event. En Magnum (of course). Last glass on night 5 was still excellent.🍷 — 22 days ago

AEL

9.0

This is a serious wine - understated, tannic, alot going on. Agree w other reviewers that this vintage may be a bit young to crack open - didn't feel fully integrated yet. — a month ago

Amanda Thomas

9.4

Absolutely fantastic with ratatouille with thyme. Cuts through everything and melds beautifully. Need another bottle to form more thoughts. — 3 months ago

with Tim

Russ Kujan

9.2

2022 vintage. Strong acidity, Raspberry, red fruit, cocoa, leather, and spices. Freshness and terroir on display. Good stuff. Good value. — 4 months ago

Jay Miner

9.0

As good as ever. As good as always. — 7 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2003 | Spicyness, concentration and elegance, a delicate ripened Chianti | paired with broccoli noodles and a fennel saucage @romo good things come to those who dare to wait 😉 — 8 days ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.4

Not as good as expected. A little tired. Nice tho. Day 3, so good! Time and air made this insane. Love, — 21 days ago

Inseon Hwang

9.0

Solid Bru. Cedar, leather and tobacco. — a month ago

Todd Scurci

9.2

#fourpack #brunellodimontalcino — a month ago

with Annie and Jason

Angela Sanks

9.3

Fantastico — 3 months ago

John Berghoff

9.3

Little guy — 4 months ago

Pooneet K

9.2

One of the best langhe nebbiolos I’ve had recently, especially for a relatively reasonable price on the list at Leon’s. And a great pairing with pork braciole as well. Lots of fruit, but still quite refined, with great texture and acid. Quite pretty and delicious. — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Deep purple in color with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black plums, cooked cherries, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, chocolates, black pepper and herbs.

Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and very fruity with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, cedar, light vanilla, tobacco, peppercorn, herbs and licorice.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Rich, extracted and fruit forward. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel, complex and engaging.

This 8 year old Cabernet is starting to drink at its peak now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Chewy, and a great sipping wine, that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged in all new French oak barrels for 12 months.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$145. — 23 days ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

9.2

Rich, black cherry. Great. Bought at Enoteca for ¥6,800. — 13 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 Monte Bello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, an intoxicating mix of exotic Eastern spices, some cocoa, inorganic earth and minerals. On the palate? The wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and impeccably balanced. To my palate, this bottle has reached the age when Monte Bello starts to really become interesting. What a delight! Drink now with some air, through 2051. — a month ago

Adam Baker

9.3

Very smooth with excellent light red fruit. Second wine with the red snapper with Cyan. — 2 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Dark ruby color with a slight brick rim. Aromas of cherry, bramble berries, leather, orange zest and dusty earth. Flavors of black cherry/berry/raspberry/plum fruit, blueberries, tobacco and savory spices. Intense earthy quality on the long finish. Mouth watering acidity and very silky tannins. Medium-plus body. A bit of heft and intensity. Solid weeknight option. — 4 months ago

Kyle B

8.9

Fantastic Chianti, tasting in Italy. — 6 months ago

with Terry

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Blend of Corvina (60%), Corvinone (20%), Rondinella(10%), Croatina (5%) and Oseleta (5%). Dark ruby color. Aromas of dried red and black fruit, diesel fumes, leather and a bit of vanilla. Flavors of intense black berry/cherry/plum fruit, tobacco and sweet baking spices. The vanilla note is present on the long and lingering persistent finish. Velvety texture and harmonious with some noticeable alcohol heat. Bold, rich and intense. Thanks for sharing, Keith S! — 7 months ago