2004 Ridge Chardonnay Monte Bello
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Tasting notes
A rich, dramatic wine, the 2004 Chardonnay Monte Bello is drinking well, offering up a ripe bouquet of tarte tatin, grilled apricot and an exotic top note of petrol. On the palate, it's ample, full-bodied and generous, with a broad attack underpinned by juicy acids. Eric Baugher observes that though the wine is very giving today, it took a while to open up in bottle. The 2004 attained 14.7% alcohol.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
By chance I was served this blind in London a couple of weeks before the Ridge retrospective. Because of the combination of weight and freshness I thought initially it could be a Grand Cru white burgundy but then realised it was more open and expressive. Very racy with some minerality but very broad in the beam too. (JR)
About the producer
Best known for its iconic Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards makes some of California’s finest wines – particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Long a pioneer of sustainable farming and minimal-intervention winemaking, Ridge makes an extensive range from Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.