Ridge Vineyards : Estate Chardonnay 2024

Characteristics and tasting tips for Estate Chardonnay 2024 by Ridge Vineyards

Tasting

Appearance
This Californian Chardonnay has a pale yellow colour with golden highlights that hint at the wine's richness.

Nose
The nose opens with delicate notes of clementine, white peach and orange blossom, creating a bouquet that is both fresh and floral.

Palate
The palate reveals flavours of pineapple and guava, enhanced by a touch of coconut, carried by a lovely texture and balanced acidity. The spicier finish brings out subtle notes of ginger and kumquat.

Food and wine pairings
This Chardonnay is a delightful match for pan-seared scallops or stuffed lobster. It also pairs beautifully with white meats in a creamy mushroom sauce, as well as with mushroom risotto.

Serving and cellaring
Estate Chardonnay 2024 is best enjoyed at 10-12°C. It has an estimated ageing potential of 10 years, so it can be enjoyed until around 2034.

A Californian Chardonnay shaped by the Santa Cruz Mountains terroir

The estate
Founded in 1885 high up on Monte Bello Ridge in California, Ridge Vineyards is now headed by Mark Vernon. Revived in the 1960s by a group of Stanford engineers, then transformed by the decisive arrival of Paul Draper in 1969, the estate rose to prominence at the 1976 Judgment of Paris and confirmed its excellence at the 2006 re-enactment. A true pioneer, this Californian estate has listed the full composition of its wines on its back labels since 2011, embodying an artisanal, chemical-free approach that remains true to Californian authenticity.

The vineyard
Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, on clay-limestone soils, the Estate Chardonnay vineyard lies at an altitude of 427 to 610 metres, on the edge of the San Andreas Fault. These steep slopes, subject to strong ocean influence, form a mountain terroir that favours freshness, tension and aromatic complexity. Some of these Chardonnay plots were planted as early as 1940, lending additional depth to this wine of character.

The vintage
The 2024 vintage stands out for its high quality, achieved despite particularly low yields. Harvesting began early, at the start of September, across the seven micro-plots dedicated to this cuvée.

Vinification and ageing
Estate Chardonnay 2024 is fermented and then aged for 15 months in barrels made from 85% American oak and 15% French oak. The barrels comprise 15% new, 20% one-year-old and 65% four-year-old casks, providing restrained oak that highlights the fruit without overpowering it.

Grape variety
100% Chardonnay.