Ramey Wine Cellars

California

Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Russian River Valley

$40 USD

Release Price

Drink Window

14.5%

ABV

pH

TA

RS

Palate

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.

Growing Conditions

These are cool sites, with low vigor soil like Goldridge Loam, planted between 1969 and 2006. Some vineyards are planted to a larger-clustered clone—typically, UC Davis clone 4— or they might be a younger planting of a Wente or Dijon selection.

Harvest

2014 was another classic vintage. A mild winter and spring caused an early bud break followed by consistent temperatures throughout the summer promoting even ripening. We had ample hang time which in turn yielded distinct varietal character with a smooth, rich texture.

Bottling

Fined and stabilized in tank during the following harvest. This wine was then bottled without filtration in February, 2016.

Winemaking

Our appellation Chardonnays are given less new oak—13% percent in 2014—and spend less time in barrel—twelve months–than the single-vineyard Chardonnays, but otherwise are made identically. We press the whole clusters for delicacy. Native-yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies bâtonnage.

Aging

Aged in barrel 12 months in 13% new French oak barrels .

More from this Producer

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