93 2004 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay 12/24/07 ($55)
14.6% alc
Color: Bright gold(22 kt). (3.5) Bouquet: Lemon-mineral and spicy buttered toast. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with excellent mineral and acidity with very good fruit-to-oak balance. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet step-for-step. Could be more concentrated, but could put on weight with time. Honeyed caramel corn. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor, but more restrained at present. (3.0)
Overall: This is a terrific wine that needs some time for its complexity and hopefully weight to emerge more. Delicious and interesting stuff, but I prefer the '03 at present due to its concentration and complexity, even though this has a brighter future and is more balanced. (16.0)