Founded back in 2011, Ram’s Gate is perched on a hillside where the San Francisco Bay meets the edges of Napa and Sonoma counties. It is a gorgeous spot that is a must visit if you have never been. I have really enjoyed these wines from the range of sites that they source from including the famed ‘Hyde’ and ‘Gap’s Crown’ Vineyards.
Winemaker Joe Nielsen spent ten years at Donelan Family Wines in Santa Rosa before becoming Director of Winemaking at Ram’s Gate in 2018. He loves making wines from his special estate vineyard that is extemely windy and produces very small, concentrated berries. The new wines come from the exciting 2019 vintage, which produced some world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Don’t miss the new 2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which has tons of viscosity and wonderful salty tones. Just as good is the salty and savory 2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Gap’s Crown Viney. Learn more about this great estate at https://ramsgatewinery.com Here are the great new wines by Ram’s Gate.
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Cellar Note’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Cellar Note’ was sourced from the Sonoma Coast AVA, and comes off wonderfully salty and tangy with salted melon, lemon rind and sourdough bread flavors. Medium to full-bodied, with plenty of finesse, this beautiful wine is shining brightly in its youth and will produce drinking enjoyment over the next seven plus years. Drink 2022-2029- 92
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay is a gorgeous new effort that is mostly Wente clonal selection, with a smaller portion of Robert Young clone. Very round and soft in the mouth, this delivers rich buttercream and melon fruit flavor alongside a bright core of acidity and wonderful length. Sturdy and rich, this will cellar well for another eight plus years. Drink 2022-2030- 93
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Gap’s Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant new 2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Gap’s Crown Vineyard’ Pinot Noir saw a small portion of whole cluster fermentation as this was stored in nearly all neutral oak (roughly 30% new) before bottling. Verry salty and savoy, this unveils ripe red cherry and loganberry tones that combine with orange zest and suggestions of saline drenched white rose water. Complex and highly gratifying to consume in its youth, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2033- 93
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Sourced from this site located in the Russian River Valley, the 2019 ‘El Diablo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir offers salty soils and peat moss tones on the nose, with dark current accents. The palate is very soft and earthy with bright acidity and lovely range from the red and dark fruits as well as the citrus ember accents. Drink 2022-2033- 93
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous new bottling that is sourced from four different lots on the estate vineyard. Cola, sassafras and ripe cranberry tones combine with nutmeg and kumquat zest on the palate. With good depth and intensity, and a lengthy finish, this beautiful Pinot Noir is already nicely evolved and will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2022-2033- 93
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Grenache Syrah’ Red Wine- Dark once in the glass, this Sonoma Coast blend comes off very salty, smoky and savory once on the mouth. Black olives, scorched earth and smoked brisket flavor all meld together nicely with a generous core of dark fruits. Novel and delightful to savor now, try this with some top class BBQ. Drink 2022-2032- 92
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Hyde Vineyard’ Syrah- This Carneros site has been making some delicious, under the radar, Syrah for many years. This 2019 edition offers white pepper dusted charcuterie, green olives and bacon fat aromatics with citrus blossom that all dazzle in the glass. The palate is fresh and lithe with great tension that races through the core of boysenberry cordial, tar and shades of coffee grounds. Drink 2022-2034- 93
2019 Ram’s Gate ‘Berler Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- This single vineyard site is set at 1,600 feet in the northern portion of the Sonoma Valley. Anise, tar and mocha tones combine with rich kirsch notes on the palate. With more air salty and tilled soil undertones follow suit. Forward and delicious, consume this great new Cabernet Sauvignon over the next ten years. Drink 2022-2032- 92