Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Chardonnay 2017

Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Chardonnay 2017 is a rare, cellar-released expression from one of California’s most distinguished estates. Sourced from a single high-altitude parcel at Rousten Ranch, it combines the richness of California Chardonnay with the precision, mineral character and longevity more often associated with classic white Burgundy. After almost a decade of bottle ageing at Ridge, this release offers a mature perspective on one of the winery’s most collectible white wines.

Tasting Notes
The wine shows a mature golden hue, with remarkable freshness beneath its developed colour. Its aromatic profile brings together ripe pear, pineapple, candied lemon, honeysuckle, dried flowers and chamomile, alongside distinctive notes of wet stone and marzipan. On the palate, it is polished and creamy, with a viscous texture, impressive depth and generous fruit balanced by firm, lively acidity. A long, complex finish reveals mineral tones and subtle savoury nuances. This is a structured Chardonnay with excellent ageing potential. Ridge originally estimated that the wine would develop slowly over approximately 15 years, and the 2017 Cellar Release is now entering an especially rewarding stage while retaining the concentration, acidity and mineral structure to evolve further in a well-kept cellar.

Production
The grapes come from Rousten Ranch, one of the high-elevation parcels on Ridge’s Monte Bello property in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The site’s cool nights, altitude and porous limestone-rich soils help the Chardonnay retain its natural acidity and freshness. Following a wet winter, a cool spring and a period of late-summer heat, the grapes were harvested on 30 August at a moderate 23.2° Brix. Whole clusters were pressed, with the must undergoing spontaneous fermentation before 20 months of ageing in American oak barrels, only 8% of which were new. The wine completed natural malolactic fermentation and was bottled unfined and unfiltered, reflecting Ridge’s low-intervention approach.

Food & Serving
Serve lightly chilled at around 11–13°C, allowing the wine to open gradually in the glass. Its combination of richness, acidity and mineral detail makes it an excellent partner for roast or grilled lobster, scallops, turbot, roast chicken, pork with creamy sauces, and mature hard cheeses. Decanting is not essential, but a gentle decant 30–60 minutes before serving can help reveal its layered aromas and soften any initial bottle-aged character.

Producer
Founded in 1959, Ridge Vineyards is one of California’s great historic producers, internationally recognised for its Monte Bello wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains. The estate’s high-altitude vineyards and limestone-rich soils have given Monte Bello a distinctive identity, while the winery’s commitment to site expression and minimal intervention has become central to its reputation. Although best known for its iconic Cabernet-based Monte Bello, Ridge produces the Chardonnay in much smaller quantities, selecting only the finest parcels. The result is one of California’s most distinctive and age-worthy Chardonnays, with a style that bridges New World depth and Old World restraint.

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