Professor Chardonnay, and a great mixed case
It was only ever meant to be 'a little Chardonnay on the side'. David Ramey had worked at a variety of prestigious estates, but it was during a stint at Dominus that he was allowed to indulge in a side project (making Chardonnay). That was 1996. By 2001 he had quit the day job and launched Ramey Wine Cellars. Fast forward a bit more. His pioneering contributions to the field have helped define the way top-flight Chardonnay is made in America.
A constant dialogue with the European wine scene has led to David importing many practices to the US. He started to harvest early to capture acidity (for freshness). He was an early adopter of the whole-cluster pressing of white grapes, the use of oxidised juice in white winemaking (which paradoxically can help protect against premature oxidation), the sur lie aging of white wines in barrel (for texture), native yeast fermentations, and bottling with minimal filtration. The Wine Spectator has called him 'Professor Chardonnay'.
It's not just about good winemaking; Ramey Wine Cellars sources fruit from some of the best vineyards up and down the Sonoma Coast (and Napa, in the case of Hyde Vineyard). On rocky clay soils, Hyde tends to make a powerful wine. Sandier Ritchie Vineyard will tend towards the fragrant and delicate. Rochioli tends to lay down a saline base under the ripe fruit, while Woolsey Road is peachy and honeyed. We are delighted to offer you these in mixed case sets from the 2020 vintage, with money off and free delivery. But we only have 12 mixed cases, so move quickly! /NT
Offered subject to remaining unsold
