Estate Chardonnay 2023

Issu du vignoble historique de Monte Bello, ce Chardonnay provient des hauteurs fraîches des Santa Cruz Mountains, en Californie. Cultivées en agriculture biologique sur le domaine, les vignes bénéficient d’un climat montagnard et de sous-sols calcaires fracturés, propices à une expression précise, tendue et minérale du cépage. L’appellation Santa Cruz Mountains signe ainsi un blanc de terroir, né sur le domaine même de Ridge Vineyards.

Les raisins, vendangés à la main, sont pressés en grappes entières puis fermentés en fûts avec les levures indigènes. Les fermentations alcoolique et malolactique se déroulent naturellement. Le vin séjourne ensuite neuf mois sur lies et quinze mois en fûts de chêne, composés de 85% de chêne américain et 15% de chêne français ; 15% des contenants sont neufs, le reste ayant déjà servi.

Ce vin dévoile des notes de pomme fraîche, de poire caramélisée, de citron confit, de pomelo, de fleur de citronnier, de verveine citronnée, de brioche grillée, de vanille, de noisette toastée et de silex. La bouche, ample et crémeuse sans lourdeur, associe une matière enveloppante à une acidité vive et saline. Sa finale nette, longuement citronnée et délicatement boisée, souligne la précision minérale du terroir.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors into California that boosted the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in Sonoma and Napa. At the start of the 20th century there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so much so that by 1933 only 140 wineries were still producing wine. It was not until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was then known mainly for fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were founded (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976 a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgement of Paris". It pitted the greatest French wines against the American newcomers. On 24 May, an unexpected result shook the wine world when, to everyone's surprise, the United States came out on top. Yet the competition remains fairly unknown to the general public. Today there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Although California largely monopolises the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.