Graham

9.2

Still a lot of tannins. Red fruit. Good acidity. Really tasty but needs a little more time. Edit - day 2/3 - really tasty. — a month ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

Deep purple color. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, earthy tones and herbs. Blackberry on the palate, earth and a hint of vegetation. Very tasty cab.

🍇 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec

🏅94 Points - Robert Parker
🏅94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
🏅91 Pints - Wine Advocate — 2 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

One of one — 3 months ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Lot of dark fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and a tinge of spice. Dark, the wine smells like it tastes. Good value. — 4 months ago

Michael Dierberg

9.5

This one had signs of seepage on it so I opened it planning on throwing it out. What an amazing wine and so fresh! Maybe another bottle seeped on to this one? — 4 months ago

romo

9.3

Some poopy bret blew off in 30 mins and revealed a sheer dress of leafy brown spice. Likely peaked at 15 years. — 5 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.1

Deep ruby color. Aromas of blueberry, leather and eucalyptus. Solid wine! Flavors of cherry, raspberry, cedar and pencil lead. Great vintage!

🏅94+ points - Wine Spectrum Rating — 7 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2021 vintage. Vacillates/alternates between polished and rambunctious. Lots to like on both sides. Acoustic or electric guitar? You get both. A tremendous length of finish. Was going to pick up a case of the 2015 vintage of this (9.3) but this is drinking even better. Decision time...4.27.26. — 2 months ago

Vinny Brooklyn

9.4

Second & last of my bottles. Wonderful, while ready to drink still has plenty of years ahead of it. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2020 Estate pours a bright, yellow/green color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of bright tropical fruit: pineapple, passion fruit, star fruit, lemon curd, almonds, toasted marshmallow, warm spices and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Lovely stuff. Drink now through 2035+. Bottle No. 9032/12960 — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured into a decanter for about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 RTW CCC pours a deep ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of mixed brambles, purple flowers, Fig Newtons, black pepper, dried green herbs, and silica rich, rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and comes across like laser cut steel. Drink now with patience through 2038. — 4 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

One of my absolute favorite California wines. The California Latour. ‘97 is superb—vividly detailed and complex with both power and elegance. A masterful balance of fruit, tertiary character and cooling acidity with a silky palate and melting tannins. Hard to beat for a Wagyu pairing. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

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. — 7 months ago

Meredith Moody

9.0

The lemonade of wines! I am a big sauvignon blanc fan, but my parents never really drink ones from New Zealand, and this made me wish I had known about it sooner. So refreshing and almost makes you pucker with how tart it is. This wine begs to be drank by the pool. Grapefruit forward, but had a grassy and herbal note that kept it grounded. Clean, acidic and crisp. I would serve this colder than class has taught me to because it is a summer delight. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2024 CCC pours a deep, ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity, with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with attractive, fresh notes of crunchy blackberries, black plum, lavender pastilles, Kiwi fruit, black pepper, crushed rock and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and mineral laden. So fresh and easy to love. Drink now through 2034. — 3 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Another solid vintage of this NZ Sauvy B. Bright golden color with green highlights. Aromas of citrus, fresh herbs/grass and tropical fruit. Flavors of grapefruit, lime,passion fruit with a mix mineral/wet stone based backbone. Distinct saline note on the long and crisp and clean finish. Bright acidity and medium body and alcohol (13.5%). Solid freshness and precision. Enjoyed with Asian food at Youyu in the Hard Rock in Atlantic City. — 3 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

1 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A striking medium purplish garnet color with bricking. On the nose: Inviting notes of dried red fruit, currants, pencil shavings, floral, stewed meat, milk chocolate. Taste: fully mature, savory, silky wine with dried plum, ground coffee, earth, minerals, tobacco, and a sour cherry/green bell pepper/graphite long finish. YUM!! Drink em if you got em. — 4 months ago

with Brenda

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Medium ruby color. Aromas of curry, cardamom, cherry and strawberry. Strawberry flavors, toasted oak, raspberry and black tea. Very interesting Santa Cruz Mountain Pinot. Bottle #32187

🏅94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
🏅93 Points - Wine Enthusiast — 4 months ago

David White

9.3

See earlier notes
Developing very nicely and great balance and flavours — 6 months ago

Sam Friedland

9.0

Very good, still a lot of tannins. Should be better I three to five years. — 8 months ago