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.

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.

94 points Wine Advocate

One of the finest expressions of this bottling in recent memory, the 2023 Chardonnay Estate Monte Bello Vineyard was matured mainly in neutral American and French oak with a 20% addition of new wood equally divided between the two origins. It exudes a classically broad, creamy bouquet with notable focus and floral overtones, pleasantly accented by a touch of reduction. The palate is rich and enveloping yet admirably lifted by invigorating acidity that carries through the textural, caramelized finish.