Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2022

Their story is crafted by the soil, the vineyards, the terroir and the passion of David Ramey. The process is a dynamic mix of experience and innovation, Old World methods and New World science. The wines are pure California – rich in character, beautifully balanced, always of exceptional quality.

Founded in 1996 after establishing Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill into the market place, David spent six years in Napa Valley as winemaker for Dominus and helped Leslie Rudd with reshape the Girard Winery into Rudd Oakville. He is involved with Family Winemakers of California.

Coming from special vineyard sites, our Chardonnays show great depth of flavor, length of finish, aromatic complexity, and a fine balance between richness and delicacy. Typically, the climate is cool and the soil vigor low, producing graceful yet vibrant wines. The 2022 vintage is 44% Lafranchi, 18% Martinelli Laughlin Rd, 14% Kilcullen, 12% Dutton Sebastopol, 12% Westside Farms.

95 Points Jeb Dunnuck 
A bright straw color, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is fresh and aromatic with notes of flinty, ripe, fresh apple, candied lemon, a savory, lightly herbaceous touch, and a hint of wet stone. Medium to full-bodied, it’s elegant and long on the palate, with a delicate saline touch and a balanced feel throughout. It is phenomenal wine and shows off the versatility of this vintage with ease. Drink it over the next 10 or more years. 

94 Points Wine Spectator 
#10 of the Top 10 Wines of 2024
David Ramey is a legend in California Chardonnay. His children Alan and Claire now run the family winery and continue the tradition of their father’s terrific single-vineyard expressions and regional blends. This wine is a mix of five vineyards: Lafranchi, Martinelli Laughlin Road, Kilcullen, Dutton Sebastopol and the family’s estate, Westside Farms. Their preference is for cool sites with low-vigor soils, and these vineyards were all planted between 1978 and 2006. The grapes are pressed as whole clusters and fermented with ambient yeasts. Malolactic conversion is 100 percent, and the Chardonnays are fined but not filtered.

92 Points James Suckling
Light butter and vanilla bean aromas lead to vivid, racy lemon curd, lime zest and cream flavors in this well-balanced, medium-bodied wine. The most affordable of the Ramey chardonnays, it still delivers an elegant texture and delicious flavors. Drink now.