Ridge 2019 Chardonnay Estate   

2019 Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay “Estate” Monte Bello Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains
San Francisco Wine Panel Score 96+ Points
This is textbook Ridge Chardonnay, full of the tension created by it’s contrasts of minerality, zest and concentrated fruit. The aromas are a mix of lemon, apple, tarte tatin, stone fruit, golden fig, vanilla and baking spice that find harmony with an equally notable mineral undercurrent. As expected from Monte Bello, it is weighty and densely packed in the mouth, but never heavy or out of balance, as a rich core of stone fruit is balanced by bright lemon made deeper by other flavors that are a coiled replica of the nose. All of these elements fan out and linger in a brilliantly food friendly style. It is quite delicious now yet is likely to improve for at least two or three years.