Edward Allen

9.0

Nice balance of fruit, oak, and creamy smoothness. Not too much of any one thing but I could use a touch more oak and butter against the fruit. I also prefer a bit more crisp body along with the buttery oak pulled off in the middle or lingering end, but this is a solid fallback and crowd pleaser. — 22 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Been awhile since I’ve had this one. Always consistently good.

Beautiful mousse, bruised red apple & Bosc pear, underripe pineapple flesh, blood orange, quince, nougat, hints of white peach, white spice-ginger, whipped cream, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, speckled chalk bits, grey volcanics, limestone, withering yellow lilies/flowers, crisp acidity, well tensioned-structured, well balanced and elegant finish that last two-minutes.

@BalancesRestaurant - Lucerne. — 2 months ago

Diana Sabo

10

Smoothest Chardonnay I’ve ever had! Enjoyed on August 11, 2025 — 4 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.0

Butter and cheese with zesty citrus and melon. — 4 months ago

Peter Coulthard

9.2

Waitrose. Is a very B&B wine. Rich and fruity with elements of smooth buttery undertones. For a Cab Sav a bit different but I enjoyed this - was a pleasant glass with a meal. — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Ridge Vineyards – Chardonnay – 2023
Monte Bello Estate Vineyard – Santa Cruz Mountains – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A mountain-born Chardonnay from one of California’s most historic estates. The long, cool 2023 growing season delivered a wine of vibrant energy and varietal purity, shaped by indigenous fermentation and extended lees aging. Ridge once again proves that Chardonnay from the Santa Cruz Mountains can rival the world’s finest in precision and longevity.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon zest, green apple, and white peach lead with lifted notes of chamomile, fresh herbs, and wet stone. Subtle toasted hazelnut and light vanilla cream echo softly from the barrel work, never overpowering the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Bright, linear acidity frames a medium-bodied palate with tension and focus. Silky texture from nine months on the lees adds quiet depth, finishing mineral, citrusy, and long.

Food Pairings
Grilled branzino, butter-poached lobster, roast chicken with herbs, shaved fennel salad, or creamy burrata with olive oil and sea salt.

Verdict
Beautifully balanced, mountain-driven Chardonnay that captures Ridge’s signature restraint and purity. Enjoy now or follow for the next decade, this vintage will reward both patience and curiosity.

Did You Know?
Ridge ferments its Chardonnay with indigenous yeasts and relies on minimal SO₂, crafting the wine with a philosophy closer to Burgundy than to typical California richness. The Monte Bello Estate vineyard sits at high elevation on fractured limestone soils, one of the rarest soil types in California for Chardonnay. — 17 days ago

Jan A

9.2

Oak/butter — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Flowers Vineyards & Winery – Chardonnay – 2022
Sonoma Coast AVA – Sonoma County, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A pure expression of the broader Sonoma Coast AVA, this Chardonnay blends fruit from multiple coastal sites to deliver Flowers’ signature style: bright, fresh, and mineral-driven. Less oak-forward and less textural tension than their single-vineyard bottlings, this cuvée leans into steeliness, lift, and coastal clarity. Tropical fruit plays a leading role while creaminess takes a gentle back seat, exactly the balance that makes this wine so inviting.

Aromas & Flavors
Pineapple, Meyer lemon, green apple, and white peach, intertwined with coastal salinity, crushed shells, and light honeysuckle. Subtle hints of vanilla and toasted almond sit quietly in the background.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, clean, and vibrant. Marked by high natural acidity and a steely mineral line that keeps everything refreshing. The finish is bright and persistent, more fruit-driven than creamy.

Food Pairings
Lemon-herb chicken, grilled halibut, shrimp linguine, caprese salad, or sushi with citrus accents.

Verdict
A beautifully balanced, coastally expressive Chardonnay that prioritizes freshness over opulence. Tropical lift, minerality, and gentle oak integration make this a standout for those who prefer precision over butter.

Did You Know?
Flowers was one of the pioneers of the far Sonoma Coast, planting vineyards in the early 1990s when few believed coastal farming was viable. Their Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is crafted to showcase the AVA as a whole, combining multiple sites to capture the region’s signature brightness and maritime drive. — 9 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Not as bad as I remember it. It’s been a while though.

Slightly, bruised pear & red & green apple, lime zest, lemon pulp, some ginger white spice w/ a touch of heat, limestone mixed in volcanic minerals, crisp chalkiness, sea spray, yeasty bread dough, yellow & white spring flowers, lively acidity and a balanced & nicely polished elegant finish that last 45 seconds and lands on volcanics.

Emirates SFO. — 2 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

No formal notes . This is more lemon yellow . Not showing much perlage . Spiced ginger bread , slightly meaty notes . With some orange rind , and brioche , dried mushroom notes . This is creamy and rich on the palate , lovely spiced yellow fruits orange peel, and brioche . Long and complete , perfect now and over the next 5 or so years. At Vinous Icons NY , Pier 60 , Feb 2025 — 4 months ago