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. — an hour ago

Graham

9.2

Paired with 17 Shoe PN. Preferred the latter which is rare. Usually like the chard. Both great. — 14 days ago

Graham

9.2

From 375, along with 2017 Horseshoe Chard — 23 days ago

Zach D

9.1

Pours a purple hue with some fading at the rim; aromas of black and red fruit; raspberry, blackberry, some dark cherry, and cassis; palate with good acidity, congruent with the nose; there is a bit of vanilla clove baking spice oak on the palate. Alcohol is moderate at 13.5; I like the wine, and I don’t drink a whole lot of American wines. The oak influence should be more delicate in my opinion, as the fruit is pretty elegant. It overwhelms a bit, and holds it back. I have doubts that this aspect will improve with bottle age, but I have another couple bottles and will leave in the cellar as an experiment. — 2 months ago

Audrey Irvine

9.8

Wine Shoe 2026 — 3 months ago

Tristan

9.7

Late lunch early dinner. Great — 4 months 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. — 24 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2013 vintage. Last tasted 11.1.24 (9.6). Decanted (small amount of sed) and tasted after 30 minutes, 1.5 hours and 3 hours. Still built for the long haul...like a quarter century+. Super floral and pretty nose this visit. Biggie, Brutalist architecture with sadistic infrastructure. Yes please! 9.26.26. — 4 days ago

Louis Martin

9.2

Very nice Tuscan wine, dry, robust cherry flavor with a hint of oak, paired nicely with the Lasagna Bolognese at Bellini’s. — 22 days ago

Brandi Bratek

9.5

Loved this wine. Rich and luscious. Just wow. — a month ago

Chris Albin

Winemaker, Azari Vineyards Winemaker, Corskcrew Wines

8.9

Thin out the gate, touch of Brett. Fills out on the nose and palate with time. — 2 months ago

Marc Garneau

9.0

D’une douceur qui coule à merveille vu l’équilibre parfait. Avec pâtes ou seul, un vrai bon Chianti. — 2 months ago

Steve Mitchell

9.3

The 2023 is a ruby red, full bodied Pinot with a smooth silky finish. Paired with a salad and grilled salmon. — 4 months 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, — 18 days ago

Jon Tate

10

Beautiful Pinot! Drank with customers at Isidore in San Antonio. Favorite wine of the night! — 5 days ago

Joe Flo

9.7

Number 1 on Spectator in 2018 — 12 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

Tom Jenkins

9.0

Dark, lush fruits. Soft tannins, but a peppery finish. Great with my Veal Milanese. — 2 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

10

OMG. Perfection. All the notes. Gotta give it to these guys. Best Chianti we have had. Had with the new Kirkland pepperoni pizza with the best ingredients possible. Must buy more now. Absolutely amazing! — 2 months ago

Bob Boyle

9.2

Good wine, nice depth to the fruit with long finish — 4 months ago