Sitting across from one of the world’s Chardonnay masters, I caught a large grin that ran across his face. We had both reached for one of his 2011 Chardonnays. ‘These age so well’ I said. ‘Yes they do,’ David concurred. It was last summer that I had the chance to taste with David and try many of his older Chardonnay and Cabernet bottlings. David had recently had a large feature in Wine Spectator but that achievement obviously did not leave him any less humble.
David is very proud of his family who now work with him as part of his team at Ramey Wine Cellars. As I was tasting with him I couldn’t but help be reminded of my first experiences trying Ramey wines with their incredible 2005 vintage that was spectacular across the board. At the time I was thrilled with California Chardonnay but the Ramey Chardonnays had something a little different. The combination of brightness with gobs of minerality, lemon zest and earthy terroir did the trick for me —I was immediately blown away with these wines.
This time I wouldn't be tasting with David due to the pandemic but the wines I tried were every bit as good as the last time I tasted the new Ramey lineup. I was once again blown away with their 2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay (WWB, 93) which is saline driven and has a sterling minerality and bright lemon zest flavors. It is no surprise that I loved the 2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) which is a big Chardonnay with an incredible mouthfeel and wonderful richness. This beauty will cellar well for decades. Learn more about these beautiful wines at https://www.rameywine.com Here are my reviews of the incredible new wines by superstar winemaker David Ramey.
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay- Consistently great, the 2017 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Chardonnay is another glorious, terroir-driven Chardonnay by famed producer David Ramey. Aged for twelve months in barrel (15% new) prior to bottling. The salty terror hits you immediately with saline drenched pear and nectarine aromatics that come together in the glass. The palate has a wonderful feeling of tension, with the vein of salinity that runs through the core of lemon zest, vanilla cream and green apple flavors, with suggestions of salted Marcona almond. This has all the terroir that you want in a great Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, as the 2017 Ramey ‘Sonoma Coast’ will have another decade of life in front of it. Drink 2020-2030- 93.
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- The ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay is sourced from a host of great vineyards in the Russian River Valley and is a gorgeous entry level wine by Ramey Wine Cellars. Aged for twelve months in French oak (15%) new prior to bottling, the Chardonnay shows suggestions of nutmeg and cloves that mingle with ripe pineapple and Pink lady apple on the nose. The sense of freshness and sterling tension is really good, as is the exceedingly long finish that lingers long on the tongue. Gorgeous to enjoy right now, the 2017 ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 93
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ is located in the Russian River AVA, the ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard parallels the River Road, as the Chardonnay aged for twenty months in roughly 25% new French oak prior to bottling. David Ramey planted Hyde-Wente budwood at this three acre vineyard. Right away you are drawn to the ripe pear and baked apple tones which mingle with suggestions of lemon zest and damp earth accents that all meld in the glass.The palate is full-bodied with a voluptuous mouthfeel. Layers of baking spices combine with lemon creme brulee, ripe mango and shades of Gravenstein apple and kumquat zest that all sing together. The exceedingly long and gratifying finish lingers long on the tongue. Fantastic in its youth, the 2017 ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay will cellar well for the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Westside Farms Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Simply spellbinding even in its youth, the 2017 ‘Westside Farms Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a glorious new wine by legendary producer David Ramey. Bright and intense aromatically, this takes on layers of salted pear that are woven together with peat moss and wild mushroom tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is marvelously textured, with a silky mouthfeel. Layers of bananas foster and damp earth combine with minerals, and poached pear with lemon zest all sing on the palate. The freshness of the wine continues to impress with gobs of mouth-watering acidity and tension The length of the wine adds to the enjoyment, as ttys stunning wine is only an infant right now and will provide drinking enjoyment for years to come. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay- David Ramey sourced from the ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ for nearly fifteen years and this is now the third year that he has crafted a single vineyard bottling from this esteemed vineyard, located roughly a mile south of Ramey’s Westside Farms Vineyard. The ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ is planted to largely Dijon clones. Aromatically quite intense, the wine leads with layers of mango and pineapple alongside baking spices and damp earthy tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is brilliantly textured and has massive acidity which really entiices. Ripe banana and pineapple tones combine with peat moss, Granny Smith apple and kumquat zest on the palate. The combination of weight, length and acidity is sensational as this is a Chardonnay to sit and savor all of the complex, working components. While a delight to savor right now, the 2017 Ramey ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Consistently one of the great Chardonnays produced in California, the 2017 ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay is another thrilling new bottling by the talented David Ramey. Sourced from this esteemed site in the Carneros AVA, the wine evokes a brilliant range of aromatics from bright pear and buttered popcorn to shades of pineapple upside-down cake and salted praline that all come together in the glass. The palate is rich and viscous, having great weight but a sterling tension that runs through the core of chard fruits that mingle with pineapple cream, ripe banana and nutmeg dusted Challah bread flavors. Wait for the exceedingly long finish that delights at the end. A gorgeous wine to enjoy right now, the 2017 ‘Hyde Vineyard’ will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2016 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2017 ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay is an incredible effort from this famed site in the Russian River Valley. Sourced from vines planted in 1972, the ’Ritchie Vineyard stands squarely in the center of the Russian River AVA. On the nose this takes on classy aromatics of baking spices and peat moss with layers of ripe orchard fruits and creme brulee tones that all mingle in the glass. The palate is wonderfully balanced with a seamless texture that makes this effortless glide across the mid-palate. Ripe mango and honeydew melon tones combine with shades of cinnamon dusted sourdough bred and lemon vanilla cream flavors. The vibrant minerality makes this nearly impossible to put down right now. Gorgeous in its youth, this brilliant new wine has a masisive aging potential ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah-The 2017 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah opens with a beautiful bouquet of smoked pork shoulder and Hoisin sauce that marvelously mingles with red cherry candy, red currents and shades of tobacco leaf that all come together in the glass. The palate is silky and layered, with a great freshness and saline streak. Ripe black fruits dance with saline drenched orange zest, guava and black tea on the palate. Seriously good right now, and showing excellent range and structure, the 2017 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah will enjoy another decade of cellaring. Drink 2020-2030- 93
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars Claret Red Wine- Sourced from the North Coast, the wine is a great blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (44%) and Merlot (20%) with smaller portions Malbec, Petit Verdot and Syrah that was aged in French oak before bottling. The nose is quite perfumed with creme de cassis, blackberry jam and shades of coffee grounds that all come together in the glass. The palate has great verve and richness, with a light dusting of salinity that melds together with the good tension of the wine. Layers of dark fruits and cocoa powder, alongside leafy and herbal undertones complete this brilliant new wine. Satisfying to enjoy in its youth, the 2017 ‘Claret’ will cellar well for another decade. Drink 2020-2030- 92