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. — 15 days ago

ESF

9.2

delicious: butterscotch - really sexy, orchard fruit juxtaposed w/salinity & minerals - full bodied, voluptuous, cellar temp was downright silky leading to long resonant finish. I've had this many times and they were always older & oxidized - would argue these are better younger — a month ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Year in, year out, this is my fav Chianti Classico. To me it captures all what I look for in a good every day Sangiovese - freshness, a bit of tannic edge, juicy flow, a savory sweetness to the fruit. And food friendliness!
Enticing nose with red cherries, a bit of wet undergrowth & turned earth, a bit of tomato leaf, a flowery whiff. Joyful!
Medium bodied on the palate with great energy & flow. The tannins present, a touch rustic, but in a nice way, the acidity juicy & vibrant. Nice depth and long finish.
So drinkable but also has some seriousness to it.
Love Monsanto! — 2 months ago

Lyn Farmer

9.3

Deep Ruby color with intense black fruit aromas of cassis, black cherry, blackberry, violet, vanilla, cedar and crushed stone minerality. Light eucalyptus, forest floor, cigar box and graphite. Well balanced tannin and acidity though the wine feels a bit over-extracted. Delicious but a little heavy. Lots of room for development. — 3 months ago

John W

9.4

Golden coloration. On the nose, lemon, brioche, minerals. On the palate, nice creamy texture, fuller body, a touch of earthiness, but primarily long lasting citrus and lemon notes with minerality on the palate that finishes strong with those 3 notes ending with a crush of a acidity. — 5 months ago

Mary H

8.9

Simple and classic chianti but that’s about it. Cherry red fruit and light oakiness. — 8 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 😉 — 19 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, — a month ago

Anthony Eacuello

9.0

Strong delicious pairing for spaghetti al pomodoro. Wonderful bottle — a month 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! — 3 months ago

Tegan Marriott

9.3

Vibing this bottle of chianti classico thanks to the positive review from Joel Lara ! So pure & true & varietally correct! — 3 months ago

with Joel

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

An OK Chianti. Widely available. — 7 months ago

John Van Trijp

10

100/100 Parker tasting — 11 days 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. — a month ago

Anthony Pro

9.0

Great bottle, great vintage. — 20 days ago

P Plusquellec

9.7

Hard to find a flaw — a month ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.4

An upcoming beauty. Already approachable but I would give it some more time in the cellar — 3 months ago

Mark Mannebach

9.2

Peach citrus upfront with a nice mineral finish — 4 months ago

Tom Jenkins

9.0

Hugo’s menu, GM recommended. Soft, delicate. Light on the tongue, hints of tart fruit. — 6 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Sant’Urbano, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2020, Veneto, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Produced by Speri in the historic hills of Valpolicella Classico, the Sant’Urbano Amarone is one of the estate’s flagship wines and a benchmark expression of the style. Crafted from the traditional Amarone blend, primarily Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, the grapes undergo the classic appassimento drying process for several months before fermentation, concentrating flavors and structure. The 2020 vintage shows remarkable balance between richness and freshness, delivering depth while maintaining precision and lift.

Aromas & Flavors
Subtle yet expressive layers of dried raisin, marmalade, and dark fruit compote emerge alongside notes of ripe cherry, fig, and delicate spice. The aromatic profile reveals the classic Amarone character without becoming overly heavy, allowing fruit purity and complexity to remain in focus.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied yet remarkably lively, the wine moves across the palate with impressive energy. Structured tannins and vibrant acidity provide a firm backbone, giving the wine lift and elegance. The texture is rich but polished, and the finish is long, layered, and persistent, suggesting a wine that will continue to evolve and climb with further aging.

Food Pairings
This Amarone pairs beautifully with slow-braised meats, roasted lamb, venison, and rich game dishes where its concentration and acidity complement savory depth. It also shines alongside aged cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino, where the wine’s structure and lingering finish enhance the richness of the pairing.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced Amarone that combines power with finesse. Structured, energetic, and elegant, it delivers both immediate pleasure and strong aging potential.

Did You Know?
The Sant’Urbano vineyard from which this wine takes its name is one of Speri’s historic crus in Valpolicella Classico and is considered among the estate’s most important sites for producing Amarone with both structure and longevity.

🍷 Personal Pick
An Amarone that truly danced across the palate, rich yet vibrant, with subtle dried fruit, marmalade, and compote supported by strong structure and acidity. Delicious now, but clearly a wine that still has room to climb. — 7 months ago