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. — 10 days ago

Colleen Tomasello

9.4

Excellent cab! Always great from Ridge, this one is full bodied, nicely aged (still has room to age more, but wonderful right now!, wish i had a couple more) — 10 months ago

Edward Nelson

9.2

Not 100% on listing here. See bottle pic to confirm. Random cellar pull. Really enjoyed this one. This bottle did not have the rough over the top sugar finish many big bottles seem to have. Greater than needed for a Thursday night. — 2 years ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Very nice ridge zin - higher altitude from their Monte bello property. Was looking for something to pair with chicken thighs marinated in a peruvian style and this definitely fit the bill. Nice fruit on the nose and palate, but not remotely jammy. Definitely a bite of tannins on the finish. At 13.5% this was very nice with a slight chill. Good reminder to look for more zin - at least if not a 15%+ bruiser. — 3 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.0

Big tropical fruits, lemon curd, luscious, yet retains acid in the end…maybe too much vanilla cream (oak) for me, but overall delicious after dinner and segway to whiskey around the fire…. — 5 years ago

with Michael and Ryan

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.5

Classically styled CF, just like their Cabernet Sauvignon 👍🏼 — 7 years 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

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. — 8 months ago

Daniel Sullivan

9.2

Browning garnet.
Forest floor, mushroom, black currant.
Vibrant palate with silky tannins.
Impressive 25 year old cab:) — a year ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.4

Monte bello ish! — 2 years ago

Joan Ziegler

9.4

Something spec. Try it — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

History begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor in San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Blend of 84% Zinfandel, 9% Alicante Bouschet, 7% Petite, aromas of jammy red/black fruits and loads of complex spice. The palate shows flavors of sweet plum and cherry with pepper, smoke, tobacco and herbs. Fine tannins on the grainy side, well balanced long ending with earthy oak. — 4 years ago

Steve Medbery

9.6

Classic traditional California Cab, built to age, low alcohol ( 13,5 ), and a a great vineyard. Other than possibly Ridge Monte Bello, this is my favorite California Cab. Cedar, plum, dark chocolate — 6 years ago

P Plusquellec

9.7

Hard to find a flaw — a month ago

Austin Hohnke

9.5

I’ll be incredibly pleased if I can perform like this at 41. Fully saturated cork and somm said, “I think it’s ok.” Faint funk right out of the gate that blew off quickly. This opened beautifully over 2 hours. American oak led the charge but air added weight and dimension with red berries, eucalyptus, tilled earth, and spice box revealing themselves in the glass. Bottle said “Selection 45%” meaning less than half of this Montebello vintage made it into this bottling. The rest went toward Santa Cruz Mountain Cabernet. 13.1% abv and it showed in how refreshing and approachable this was. Don’t know that I’d store a ton longer, but this was the perfect accompaniment to dinner at Keen’s. — 3 months ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Pure and elegant. Loads of character. Glossy and delicious. Excellent — 9 months ago

with Peter, Gregg and 1 other

Vinny Brooklyn

9.5

Maybe too soon but my gosh this is great. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured from magnum; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2 as the wine came into better balance. The 2015 “Caravina” pours a deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. One the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black cherry, brambles, tobacco, violets, herbs, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine with dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the acid plays a significant role, giving some real lift to the lush fruit. And while we’re on the topic, I’ll just share an observation that the acid is a significant characteristic for Seavey. In their youth, they are somewhat tough to fully appreciate (Ridge also has this reputation). I’m not suggesting Seavey is an analogue to Monte Bello, rather just stating they seem to be playing the long game…and I’m here for that. That being said, these are good now but will be more pleasurable in another couple years (at least in this format) and should be lovely through 2035. — 3 years ago

Emily Anderson

9.2

Last of the bottles of cab from our wedding at Paradise Ridge 6 years ago – love it!! — 6 years ago

with Michael

Shawn R

9.4

Celebrating my good friend @David L and his birthday with this 90 Ridge. Nothing short of spectacular. Has a creamy element with fruit and great balance. So classic. — 7 years ago