Sitting across from legendary winemaker David Ramey, he grinned ear to ear when describing his new 2019 wines. “2019 is a great vintage” he said. “For white grapes particularly I don’t see many significant differences between, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17 and’18. We have been targeting about 23 brix and we like the finished wine around there.”
I then asked him about how he felt climate change was impacting Burgundian varietals. “The bigger difference with climate change and drought is part of the weird weather we are having” he said. “Drought years 14-16 and when you have this drought (also 2021) the soil dries out early and we don’t get frost anymore. There used to be ice on the ponds but not anymore. There is now an early bud break. Our growing seasons are not hotter as far as I am concerned but the bud break to harvest period is the same length of time, it is just moved up. Instead of harvesting whites in September now they are harvested in August. But the hang time is the same as it was before.”
There is good reason why Ramey has been named one of the Chardonnay masters of the world. Over the years Ramey has moved to using less new French oak in all of his Chardonnays — particularly in his village level Chardonnays that check in at only 15% new French oak. These wines are full-bodied and very gratifying despite the lower levels of new French oak. I adored the new 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is dense and fresh with lovely saline tones. One of the great Chardonnay wines that I have tasted in the past year, the 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 97) is dense, fresh and shows incredible verve and length. This will be a 20 year old wine. Learn more at rameywinecellars.com and here are my reviews of the outstanding new wines by David Ramey.
2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay- The. 2019 ‘Fort Ross-Seaview’ Chardonnay shows a whiff of salty orchard. Fruits with shades of marzipan and brioche. The palate is fresh and lively with serious tension and a silky mouthfeel. Gobs of lip-smacking acidity impress here, as this lively wine finishes very long. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay- The 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Russian River Valley’ Chardonnay was stored in 15% new French oak for one year before bottling. This is a gorgeous Chardonnay that has wonderful weight and tension. Once on the mouth this takes on a silky texture with ripe Japanese pear, white peach and salty undertones on the palate. Glorious now, this has another ten years in front of it. Drink 2021-2029- 93
2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Westside Farms Vineyard’ Chardonnay- David Ramey bought this site back in 2012 and he began working with the vineyard back in 2013 as grapes from this vineyard were planted way back in 1990. The heady 2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Westside Farms Vineyard’ Chardonnay shows an incredible bouquet of lemon zest and baking spice dusted brioche alongside shades of banana and ripe pineapple, with nutty and earthy undertones. The palate is plush with silky mouthfeel and wonderful length with serious tension and salty undertones. Gorgeous now, this has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2036- 95
2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Located between Westside road and the Russian River, this famed vineyard planted by Joe Rochioli is set on alluvial soils with gravel and loamy deposits. Shades of wild mushroom and bright orchard fruits combine with suggestions of mango and salted Macadamia nut tones. The mouthfeel is fantastic here with beautiful length and power, yet this comes off very weightless. Wait for the exceedingly long finish. Drink 2021-2036- 96
2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Sourced from old Wente Clonal selection Chardonnay from the Hyde Vineyard, this tightly spaced vineyard is set on older volcanic soils. On the nose the 2019 ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay takes on Marcona almond with roasted pineapple, alongside shades of tilled soils aromatically. The palate is silky and elegant with light tannins and a soft mouthfeel that frame a beautiful range of orchard fruits alongside lemon zest dusted French bread and baking spice flavors. Fresh and lively with gobs of finesse, this beautiful wine is made for some medium-term cellaring. Drink 2021-2036- 96
2019 Ramey Wine Cellar ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ is a seamless, tension-driven thrill ride of a wine that has a really long way to go. The palate is soft and seamless with serious weight and tension and depth. Layers of bananas foster and white peach combine with suggestions of Marcona almond topped shortbread. Silky and elegant, with an exceedingly long finish and gobs of mouth-watering acidity, this outstanding wine will provide drinking enjoyment for another twenty years. Drink 2021-2038- 96
2013 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Very refined, the beautifully evolved 2013 Chardonnay is a show-stopper now at the eight year mark. Dense and intense, yet very weightless and fresh, this gorgeous wine delivers nectar and Japanese pear flavors alongside gunpowder and roasted peanut flavors on the palate. This will be a 20 year old wine. Drink 2021-2031-96
2019 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Chardonnay- David Ramey began sourcing from this famed site in Carneros since 1996. This is now the 24th vintage of this wine. This 2019 edition is an unbelievably good effort with sensational richness and finesse, as this rivals any new world Chardonnay that I have tasted in the past year. Once on the nose this exudes class with rich layers of baking spice dusted Challah bread, ripe banana and suggestions of salted Macadamia nut. The palate is dense and seamlessly glides across the drinking experience. Glorious in its bright and lithe youth, this has another fifteen plus years to go. Drink 2021-2036- 97
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2017 ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous effort that has really good weight and tension. The nose shows serious range from teaberry and orange rind alongside cola and cran-cherry tones that all meld in the glass. The palate shows light cola tons alongside mulberry and salty undertones on the palate. Fresh and vibrant with really good balance, this outstanding effort is delicious to consume now and has another ten to fifteen years to go. Drink 2021-2035- 94
2018 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah- Dense and dark in the glass, the 2018 ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah was co-fermented with 8% Viognier. Right away this reveals salty tones that combine with smoked brisket, orange zest and suggestions of black cherry cordial. The palate is dense and fresh with intense blueberry and Black Forest Cake flavors alongside good freshness and gobs of minerals.Gorgeous now this will evolve well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2021-2036- 95
2016 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2016 ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous effort from this warm vintage. Herbal undertones mark the nose alongside cassis and blackberry tones with graphite accents. The palate is very elegant with firm tannins that frame medium bodied dark fruits with chocolate and coffee ground undertones. Drink 2021-2035- 93
2017 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Cooley Ranch’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The Cooley Ranch is a large site in the northern part of Sonoma County, as this wine is sourced from a hillside location. Black tea and blackberry compote fill the nose with lovely herbal undertones. The palate has great freshness with ripe black fruits that collide with shades of graphite and roasted figs flavors. Drink 2021-2036- 93
2011 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Annum’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Beautifully evolved now, the 2011 Ramey Wine cellars ‘Annum’ is gorgeous now at the eleven year mark. Anise, cassis and green bell pepper flavored mingle with light salty and meaty undertones on the palate. Drink 2021-2031- 94
2011 Ramey Wine Cellars ‘Pedregal Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This gorgeous effort is very warm vintage left bank Bordeaux. On the nose there is violets and green bell pepper alongside shades of tar and wild blackberry tones. The palate is seamless and elegant with very refined tannins that frame a core of dark fruits with smoky and tobacco tones. This elegant wine isn’t going anywhere for a while. Drink 2021-2036- 95