- Region
- California
- Producer
- Ramey Wine Cellars
- Vintage
- 2021
- Grape varieties
- 100% Chardonnay
- Bottle size
- 75 cl
- Ratings
- 94 points Wine Spectator
- 96 points Jeb Dunnuck
- 96 points James Suckling
- 94 points Vinous
- 95+ points Robert Parker
- Special characteristic
- Contains sulphites
Hand-picked and hand-selected grapes. Cold maceration ('cold soak') followed by wild-yeast fermentation. Maturation for 20 months on the lees in 20% first-use French oak barrels (Taransaud und François Frères ), with regular bâtonnage (lees stirring). Malolactic fermentation also occurred during this time. After a short time in stainless steel, the wine was bottled unfiltered.
Medium straw-yellow in colour. Nose of apricot, citrus, honey, vanilla and caramel, underscored by cool mineral notes. Silky, beautifully balanced and dynamic on the palate. Lovely persistent finish.
Ritchie Vineyard is situated in the Russian River Valley AVA and was planted in 1972. Its soil consists of sandy loam, which is common among the great vineyards of this appellation.