Ramey Cellars Chardonnay — Russian River Valley, Sonoma County 2023
David Ramey is one of California's most celebrated winemakers — a Burgundy-trained perfectionist who has spent decades proving that the Russian River Valley can produce Chardonnay of genuine world-class stature. The 2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is sourced from seven exceptional cool-climate vineyard sites — Lafranchi, Westside Farms, Sonoma Foothills, Martinelli Laughlin, Kilcullen, Dutton Sebastopol, and Frank Johnson — all planted on low-vigor Goldridge loam soils between 1978 and 2017. Whole-cluster pressed, native-yeast fermented, and aged 12 months on the lees in 10% new French oak, it is a Chardonnay of extraordinary intensity, purity, and precision. Decanter, The Wine Advocate, and Wine Spectator all awarded it 94–95 points.
The nose is open and inviting: stone fruit, white peach, guava, macerated mango, and apricot, layered with exotic baking spices, toasted brioche, ginger, and honey. On the palate, the fruit is luxuriously ripe yet laser-focused — concentrated and layered, with fireworks of fresh acidity, crushed rock minerality, and a very long, perfumed finish. Drink now through 2039.
Decanter 95 • Wine Advocate 95 • Wine Spectator 94 — "One of the finest, most balanced, and well-structured Chardonnays from the Russian River Valley at this price point."
Expert Reviews — Vintage 2023
Decanter — 95 Points
Clean and sleek, a beautifully balanced medium-bodied Chardonnay with luxuriously ripe stone and orchard fruit. Exotic baking spices complement layers of guava, white peach, and macerated mango with apricot. What’s most impressive is the intensity and purity of the fruit — so precisely delineated, profoundly spicy, and laser-focused. At $50, this is one of the finest, most balanced, and well-structured Chardonnays from the Russian River Valley at this price point.
The Wine Advocate (Erin Brooks) — 95 Points
Open, inviting aromas of stone fruit and pineapple, panna cotta, ginger, toasted brioche and honey. The palate combines concentrated, layered flavors with fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a very long, perfumed finish.
Wine Spectator — 94 Points
Leaps out of the glass with intensity, offering vibrant fruit flavors of crisp Meyer lemon, apple and pear. Aromatic details of tangerine, lime sherbet and lemon blossoms add complexity alongside fresh herbal accents of lemon balm and sweetgrass. Crushed rock minerality lingers on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2039.
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Producer: Ramey Cellars, Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California
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Vintage: 2023
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Appellation: Russian River Valley AVA, Sonoma County
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Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
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Vineyards: Lafranchi (26%), Westside Farms (18%), Sonoma Foothills (16%), Martinelli Laughlin (15%), Kilcullen (12%), Dutton Sebastopol (9%), Frank Johnson (4%)
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Soils: Goldridge loam, cool-climate, low-vigor sites planted 1978–2017
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Vinification: Whole-cluster press, native-yeast fermentation, full native malolactic, sur lies bâtonnage
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Aging: 12 months in 10% new French oak (Taransaud Beaune, François Frères); fined, bottled unfiltered December 2024
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Size: 750ml
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Tasting Notes: White peach, guava, mango, apricot, baking spice, brioche, ginger, crushed rock minerality
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Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2039
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Best Paired With: Lobster, roast halibut, butter-poached scallops, roast chicken, truffle risotto, aged Comté
Three scores of 94–95 points from the world’s top critics — Ramey’s Russian River Valley Chardonnay is the benchmark for what California can do at this price.
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