Description
Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay — Arroyo Seco, Monterey 2023
Wente Vineyards planted Riva Ranch in 1961, long before Arroyo Seco had a reputation to speak of. Karl L. Wente saw what others missed: a cool, wind-driven corridor carved by the Santa Lucia Range, with gravelly loam soils and a microclimate that forces vines to work for every degree of ripeness. Over sixty years later, Riva Ranch remains the heart of the Wente estate — and the 2023 vintage is a compelling argument for why this vineyard matters.
The nose is warm and precise: ripe golden apple, caramelized pineapple, toasted brioche, and a lift of white flower. On the palate, the wine is lush and slightly viscous, with a creamy mid-palate of crème brûlée, roasted hazelnut, and buttery oak. Bright, carefully integrated acidity keeps the wine honest and the finish long. This is a Chardonnay that earns its richness — shaped by place, not formula.
Tasting Panel 93 • James Suckling 91 • Wine Enthusiast 90 — “Fresh and vibrant, with butterscotch adhering to a stony frame. Creamy oak, fine acid structure, and pleasing mango and banana.”
- Producer: Wente Vineyards, Livermore Valley, California
- Vintage: 2023
- Appellation: Arroyo Seco, Monterey, California
- Vineyard: Riva Ranch Estate
- Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Golden apple, caramelized pineapple, toasted brioche, crème brûlée, roasted hazelnut, buttery oak
- Best Paired With: Roast chicken, lobster bisque, grilled halibut, aged Gruyère, creamy pasta
A 93-point California Chardonnay at an honest price — Wente’s Riva Ranch is the benchmark for what Arroyo Seco can be.
