Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Estate Chardonnay 2023
(Santa Cruz Mountains, California) - [JD 100] [OB 95] [WE 94] [DM 94] [WS 93]

Pre-order; eta 7 business days from the date of order.

About the Winery:
Ridge produced its first chardonnay in 1962 from fully-mature vines planted in the late 1940s on the Monte Bello estate vineyard. Production never exceeded ten barrels, and Monte Bello chardonnay was sold principally at the winery. Several great vintages, among them the 1973, ‘74, ‘79, and ‘84, showed that our cool climate and fractured limestone sub-soils were well suited to the varietal. By 1985, the old vines were producing less then a half-ton per acre and were taken out. The younger vines, planted in the ‘70s, provide the majority of grapes today. Initially these newer plantings were on the “lower” vineyard—not yet farmed as part of the Monte Bello estate—so the wine was called “Santa Cruz Mountains” and these vines have long since been included. Since 2009 the wine has been designated Ridge Estate Chardonnay. In years when differences among lots are sufficient to warrant a separate bottling, we make a limited amount of Monte Bello Chardonnay as well.

Winemaking:

Grapes: Average Brix 23.6˚
TA: 4.4 g/L
pH: 3.54
Fermentation: Grapes were whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented. Natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic) fermentations.
Barrels: 85% air-dried American oak, 15% French oak (15% new, 20% one year old, and 65% four and five years old).
Aging: Fifteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested estate-grown Monte Bello Vineyard grapes; whole-cluster pressed; fermented on the native yeasts; full malolactic on the naturally-occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 82.7 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Vintage Notes:
This year stands out as one of the longest and coolest growing seasons in recent years. A drawn out harvest resulted in a wine that preserves varietal character while promoting the mineral and citrus accents typical of the vineyard. After barrel fermentation, the wine spent a further nine months on the lees. Enjoyable now, this mountain-grown chardonnay will evolve over the next eight years.

Tasting Notes:
Apple fruit, brioche, and vanilla on the nose. On the palate, focused notes of citrus, pear, bright acidity, and a clean finish.

Vineyard: Monte Bello

Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains

Alcohol By Volume: 14.1%

Ratings & Reviews

100 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
”The 2023 Chardonnay Estate is a unicorn wine, with the acids naturally occurring with ease in this cool, long, extended growing season that the wine world is rightfully excited about, producing wines of tremendous elegance and balance, sourced entirely from Monte Bello Estate. The minerality is off the charts, exuberantly defining the wine after a barrel fermentation of nine months on the lees in 85% American and 15% French oak, 15% of it new. Gorgeously lengthy and bright, winemaker John Olney recommends that for primary fruit, it's best to drink through the first 7-8 years; for fans of later-aging wines, wait 20 years. I adore this wine.” (Apr 2025)

95 Points - Owen Bargreen:
“The 2023 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is entirely sourced from the famed Monte Bello Vineyard. Coming from this cooler vintage, the wine was stored in a combination of American oak, French oak and Amphorae before bottling. Challah bread and vanilla creme brûlée all mark the nose alongside banana and hints of ripe mango. The palate is plush, ripe and laden with minerality. Very seamless throughout the drinking experience, with a light dusting of salinity and fat mouthfeel, this combination of richness and freshness really makes it sing. Glorious now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033.” (March 2025)

94 Points - Decanter:
“Ridge has made this Chardonnay from the Montebello estate since 1962, but it’s less than 5% of the planted acres. This comes from the lower slopes of the original Klein Ranch. A long, cool growing season pushed this Chardonnay back a month in 2023, in terms of harvest dates. An extended hang time gives the wine a nice balance. While it’s opulent and ripe, with vanilla bean and poached pear from 80% American oak, its whole cluster is pressed and spends 6-8 months sur lie with a weekly battonage. The palate is lushly fruited with creamy notes of lemon curd, baked apple and a bright, nearly savoury finish. Delicious.” -Clive Pursehouse (April 2025)

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"The familiar flinty tone of this bottling meets with complex kicks of lemon curd and lemon verbena on the nose. The palate is grippy and delicately oaked, with buttery flavors balanced by lime peel acidity and a salty finish that makes the mouth water." – Matt Kettmann (Sep 2025)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Vivid and energetic up front, with mouthwatering acidity and flavors of salted and preserved lemon, pomelo, and fresh-cut apple. Notes of grilled bread, toasted hazelnut and smoked salt add a savory thread alongside floral aromatics of lemon blossoms, lemon verbena and jasmine. Drink now through 2036. 2,500 cases made.” – MW (Jul 2025)