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. — a day ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

From makers of Sassicaia, Deep Ruby color with aromas of fresh red & black fruits and earthy floral notes, 55% Cab Sauv, 27% Merlot & 18% Cab Franc. On the palate flavors of cherry, plum & blackberry with floral, licorice, cacao and earthy notes, well integrated. Fine tannins, a wine with a solid structure, elegant and smooth, long finish, great mouth feel ending with fruit and oak. Will age well over next 5+ years. Nice! — 19 days 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 days ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Dark and intense. Mocha, plum, leather on the nose. Rounded and plush on the mid palate. Rich and rounded with a fine tannins — 18 hours ago

with Chris, Alec and 1 other

Jake Hajer

9.1

Tea. Cranberry. Not as lush as other Turleys — 5 days ago

Paul T HB

9.6

Great Italian vintage, this doesn’t break the bank if you can find it.
Decant still needed. — 11 days ago

Paul J

9.1

Twin’s 8th Birthday Party!

Solid, good fruit, a little harsh on the palate. Classic bell pepper present with more oak than I was expecting. — 5 days ago

with Brooke

romo

9.1

Balsamic-y butterscotch toffee and some coffee notes. Medium-minus body makes this fun. — a month ago

J Choi

9.5

Initially thought cork fail. Capsule protruding. Wine residue. Surprised. great — 13 days ago

Big Wave Dave

9.2

This is great quaffable italian red. Perfect pizza wine. Nice round opulent fruit without being overblown. Enough tannin and acid to hold the package together. Buy again! — 9 hours ago