2003 Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay, 3-bottle Lot

Ramey Wine Cellars is in Healdsburg, in California’s Sonoma County. It was founded in 1996 by David and Carla Ramey. David had spent two decades as a winemaker for such producers as Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus and Rudd before striking out on his own. Ramey sources grapes from Napa Valley, the Russian River Valley and the Sonoma coast. The estate makes Cabernet blends, Chardonnay and Syrah. Robert M. Parker Jr. has praised Ramey’s wines, writing that “David Ramey is one of the few California winemakers who thinks in terms of structure, not just flavor…All the wines I tasted at Ramey’s cellar just outside Healdsburg were terrific.”

Russian River Valley AVA is named for the river that meanders from Mendocino County in the north until it finally runs into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The AVA is cool thanks to its proximity to the northern California coast and the river, and grape growers must learn to deal with regular fog. Nevertheless in recent decades the AVA has become one of the best in the state, meaning that its wines often earn excellent reviews and have considerable cachet. The AVA status was awarded in 1983 and today the appellation has 15,000 vineyard acres. Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape though Pinot Noir has also been very successful in recent decades. Russian River Valley Pinot Noir are known for being rich, lush and filled with concentrated fruit and berry flavors. Russian River Pinot Noirs are today considered some of the best domestic Pinot Noirs.

This white variety originated in Burgundy, but is now grown around the world. Its flexibility to thrive in many regions translates to wide flavor profile in the market. Chardonnay is commonly used in making Champagne and sparkling wines.