It isn’t easy passing the torch to the new generation. One of the most celebrated winemakers in the United States, David Ramey and his wife Carla Ramey are proprietors of Ramey Wine Cellars, producer of some of the best Chardonnay on this planet. David and Carla have been together for 30 years and have helped transform the California wine scene. In 2022 David was given an lifetime achievement award from Sonoma County Vintners for his contributions to the industry. For many years he has crafted wines from some of the great vineyards in Sonoma, including the Hyde and Ritche Vineyards. The wines all have a beginning, middle and an end, and show beautiful harmony and depth. Over the years David has moved from natural corks to DIAM and also has dialed back the oak treatment in the wines, now at roughly 20-25%.
I’ve tasted several times with David and have seen how incredible these wines are with age. I have some of these wines in my personal cellar as well which is always fun to revisit and see how they are cellaring. We met less than a year ago and with a gleam in his wife he talked about his children, Claire and Alan Ramey and their contributions to the winery. Claire and Alan have assumed ownership of the winery and estate vineyard, Westside Farms.
The new wines were gorgeous across the board. I was amazed by the 2021 Ramey ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is amongst the finest wines of this kind that I have tasted from Ramey. Deep and rich, with tropical fruit notes, this could easily be a 15-20 year wine. Even better was the sinfully good 2017 Ramey ‘Pedregal Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 97) which is impeccably balanced and has beautiful herbal notes from the Petite Verdot. Sturdy and built like a brick house, this Cabernet is already shining brightly now. Learn more about these incredible wines at http://www.rameywine.com Here are the great new releases by Ramey.
2021 Ramey ‘Woolsey Road Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Dense on the palate, the Woolsey Road Vineyard’ comes form a site that is located immediately south from the Martinelli winery. This 2021 Chardonnay was planted by the Martinellis for David Ramey back in the mid-2000s. This Wente Clonal selection Chardonnay was stored in 24% new French oak for 20 months before bottling. Big on the mouth, this offers ripe banana and suggestions of papaya flavors, with strong flinty underpinnings. Finishing exceedingly long, enjoy this beauty now and over the next decade. Drink 2022-2034- 95
2021 Ramey ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Talk about a world-class Chardonnay, the 2021 Ramey ‘Ritche Vineyard’ Chardonnay is a stunning bottling coming from the Russian River Valley. This location is planted to Old Wente selection, with a few scattered Musqué selection vines planted in 1972. The nose shows beautiful range from nutty and earthy tones alongside toasty oak, pastry crust, with cinnamon and cardamom notes. The palate has great weight and verve, laden with Meyer lemon zest, baking spice laced brioche, roasted pineapple and hazelnut flavors. Be sure to serve this on the warmer side to take in the thrilling flavor and aromatic range. Drink 2023-2036- 96
2021 Ramey ‘Woolsey Road’ Chardonnay- The 2021 Ramey ‘Woolsey Road’ Chardonnay is a stunning new wine by winemaker Claire Ramey. This wine comes from this site which is owned by the Martinelli family and was planted to our specifications in 2007. Stored for 20 months in 20% new French oak, this offers a soft mouthfeel with a vibrant underlying tension once on the mouth. Layers of beeswax and wild mushroom combine with rich melon fruits, with hints of marzipan and starfruit on the palate. Showing excellent weight and flavor density, this is really singing even so young. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2021 Ramey ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from this Russian River site planted by Tom Rochioli, the 2021 Ramey ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Chardonnay is comprised of 82% Mid-40 block vines and 18% River block vines. It is dazzling on the mouth, with serious verve as this effortlessly glides throughout the drinking experience. Ripe banana and pineapple flavors offer an exotic edge, with nutmeg drenched French bread and Macadamia nut flavors add to the balance. Big and rich with plenty of depth, this is drinking great now at the two year mark. Drink 2023-2036- 96
2021 Ramey ‘Westside Farms’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2021 Ramey ‘Westside Farms’ Chardonnay (Clone 4) comes from this 75-acre ranch on Westside Road, has been in use as farmland since the middle 1800s. The Chardonnay was harvested and then cellared for 18 months in concrete eggs before bottling. The aromatics are beautiful with lemon curd, vanilla cream and shades of kumquat zest alongside brioche tones. The palate is soft and seamless with serious length and a dazzling underlying freshness. Finishing long with cream and copious minerals, this scintillating wine will easily go for another twelve plus years in the cellar. Drink 2023-2035- 96
2018 Ramey ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- This 2019 ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir mostly comes from the Shiloh Glen and 25% Dutton Goff Vineyards.Given 25% whole cluster fermentation, the wine was stored in 45% new French oak for 18 months before bottling. The palate is rich and viscous with great underlying tension, displaying bright cranberry, Bing cherry, and red raspberry fruit flavors alongside shades of cola, sassafras and freshly tilled salty soils. Complex and delicious, with great energy, this will be a long-ager. Drink 2023-2037- 94
2020 Ramey ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah- Entirely sourced from the Cole Creek Vineyard, the 2020 Ramey ‘Sonoma Coast’ Syrah comes from this location set on Felta clay loam, with some sections reaching up to 90% rock. It is rich and nicely textured once on the mouth, with creme de violette, asphalt, black currants and black cherry cordial flavors alongside a good underlying verve. Really good now, enjoy over the next seven plus years to come. Drink 2023-2030- 94
2017 Ramey ‘Rodgers Creek Vineyard’ Syrah- The outstanding 2017 Ramey ‘Rodgers Creek Vineyard’ Syrah comes from this location set on old, rocky volcanic soils that were planted to Syrah Clones 877 and 470, with three rows of Viognier. The Syrah has a large portion (12%) of Viognier blended in, and was 25% whole cluster fermented as this opens with heady aromatics of smoked pork shoulder, garrigue, white pepper dusted bacon and bright red fruits. The palate is seamless and neatly textured with great balance and high-tones from the Viognier. Showing good length and viscosity, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next twelve years to come. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2019 Ramey ‘Claret’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Claret’ by Ramey comes from the North Coast AVA. The wine combines mostly Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) with 10% Syrah, 9% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, and smaller portions Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.Stored in 20% new French & American oak barrels prior to bottling. The wine shows Earl Grey tea and juicy dark fruits that mingle well with the soft mouthfeel and chocolate with coffee ground nuances. Medium-bodied, showing good balance, enjoy now and over the next ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 92
2018 Ramey ‘Template’ Red Wine- The 2018 ‘Template’ is a Merlot-dominant ode to the wines of the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Mostly sourced from the Mt. Veeder AVA, this wine combines Merlot (68%) with 26% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is rich and neatly textured stuff once on the mouth. Tar and espresso ground flavors combine with anise, black currants, and shades of Black Forest Cake on the palate. Delicious and nicely balanced, with good weight and structure, this beauty will go on to cellar well for another fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2023-2038- 94
2018 Ramey ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The fantastic 2018 Ramey ‘Napa Valley’ Cabernet Sauvignon was mostly sourced from the Oak Knoll and Oakville AVAs. This has 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot, and 2% Cab Franc blended in. Dark in the glass, the wine delivers a smooth texture upon entry. Layers of rich dark fruits parade with violets, tar, espresso grinds and shades of dark chocolate shavings. Really good now, watch this beauty evolve over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 93
2017 Ramey ‘Pedregal Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A joy to consume right now, the pulsating 2017 Ramey ‘Pedregal Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a world-class bottling from this Healdsburg house. The wine comes from this small, hillside vineyard in the Oakville AVA and has 15% Petit Verdot blended in. It is incredibly well-balanced, as you can really take in the lush herbal tones from the Petit Verdot. Rich mocha and tar flavors combine with creme de cassis, exotic spices and shades of wet gravel on the palate. A total masterclass, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twenty plus years and give it an hour in the decanter before consuming. Drink 2023-2043- 97