Initially thought cork fail. Capsule protruding. Wine residue. Surprised. great — a month ago
Ridge Vineyards – Chardonnay – 2023
Monte Bello Estate Vineyard – Santa Cruz Mountains – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A mountain-born Chardonnay from one of California’s most historic estates. The long, cool 2023 growing season delivered a wine of vibrant energy and varietal purity, shaped by indigenous fermentation and extended lees aging. Ridge once again proves that Chardonnay from the Santa Cruz Mountains can rival the world’s finest in precision and longevity.
Aromas & Flavors
Lemon zest, green apple, and white peach lead with lifted notes of chamomile, fresh herbs, and wet stone. Subtle toasted hazelnut and light vanilla cream echo softly from the barrel work, never overpowering the fruit.
Mouthfeel
Bright, linear acidity frames a medium-bodied palate with tension and focus. Silky texture from nine months on the lees adds quiet depth, finishing mineral, citrusy, and long.
Food Pairings
Grilled branzino, butter-poached lobster, roast chicken with herbs, shaved fennel salad, or creamy burrata with olive oil and sea salt.
Verdict
Beautifully balanced, mountain-driven Chardonnay that captures Ridge’s signature restraint and purity. Enjoy now or follow for the next decade, this vintage will reward both patience and curiosity.
Did You Know?
Ridge ferments its Chardonnay with indigenous yeasts and relies on minimal SO₂, crafting the wine with a philosophy closer to Burgundy than to typical California richness. The Monte Bello Estate vineyard sits at high elevation on fractured limestone soils, one of the rarest soil types in California for Chardonnay. — 14 days ago
Was missing something. Maybe some verve? — 6 days ago
Tea. Cranberry. Not as lush as other Turleys — 18 days ago
Alcon Big room dinner 20251120 — 13 days ago
Cork went backwards into the bottle, but was intact. Lovely medium-red color, faint bricking on edge, dried red fruits, subtle American oak, very suave on the palate, yet still shows some tannic grip into the long, lingering finish, I’ve long adored these 1980s/early 1990s Pesquera “regular” Ribera del Duero tintos, which avoided the much more lavishly oaked Janus Riserva cuvée, and most amazingly, how long these $18-20 regular cuvées will age!! — a month ago
Ed Chin
Not really complex just a solid mid week bottle with tertiary notes coming into play. — 3 days ago