2013 Monte Bello Chardonnay

The 2013 Chardonnay Monte Bello is still very youthful, wafting from the glass with aromas of green pear, white currants, pastry cream and blanched almonds that has already digested most of its new oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, deep and very concentrated, with almost chewy levels of extract and considerable power, underpinned by succulent acids and concluding with a grippy, chalky finish. One senses the concentration of the 2013 more after a few years of bottle age than one did a few years ago, and it's incredibly clear that this will be a long haul vintage of Monte Bello Chardonnay.

The 2013 Chardonnay Monte Bello is exceptional. Rich, layered and creamy, the 2013 exudes depth. Readers will have to wait at least a few years before the 2013 hits its stride, but all the elements are in the right place. Yellow orchard fruit, mint, sweet spices and flowers are all fused together in an exceptional, racy Chardonnay loaded with class and personality. Today, the 2013 is a total knock-out. The 2,000 case production for the Monte Bello Chardonnay is a record high for Ridge.

A true gem, the 2013 Chardonnay Monte Bello, which was barrel fermented and aged 17 months in mostly American oak, offers sensational notes of white peach, citrus blossom, mint, ginger and baking spices. It’s a big, rich wine, yet it never puts a foot wrong, is impeccably balanced and stays fresh, pure and focused. Drink it anytime over the coming decade or more. Oct 2016, www.robertparker.com, Drink: 2016-2026