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Volume 33, No. 6 December 2007 – January 2008
2005 Ramey, "Ritchie Vineyard,” Russian River Valley ($65)
Medium-light yellow color; attractive, intense, complex, toasty, spiced apple aroma with notes of lemon zest and butterscotch; full body; tight, citrussy, nutty, green apple flavors with good depth and well integrated oak; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing to taste now though it should continue to develop and improve with several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.5% alcohol; 1,050 cases; 100% barrel fermentation (BF); 100% malolactic fermentation (ML); released September 2007. (Group Score: 16.5 of 20 points, 7 of 11 first-place votes/2 seconds/0 thirds; My Score: 17 [92 of 100 points], first place)
2005 Ramey, "Hudson Vineyard,” Carneros, Napa Valley ($60)
Medium-light to medium golden yellow; attractive, forward, intense, toasty, slightly tropical, baked apple aroma with hints of orange zest and butterscotch; full body; forward, rich, lemony, nutty, spicy baked apple flavors with good depth and showing some complexity; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Enjoyable to drink now though deserves several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.5% alcohol; 2,300 cases; 100% BF; 100% ML; released September 2007. (Group Score: 16.4, 1/1/2; My Score: 17 [91/100], second place)
2005 Ramey, "Hyde Vineyard,” Carneros, Napa Valley ($60)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, floral, ripe pear and spiced apple aroma with hints of nut meg and toasted hazelnut; full body; forward, rich, spicy, ripe pear and green apple flavors with notes of citrus and creamy oak; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing to taste now though deserving of several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.5% alcohol; 28300 cases; 100% BF; 100% ML; released September 2007. (Group Score: 16.3, 0/1/3; My Score: 17 [90/100], third place)
Volume 32, No. 6 December 2006 – January 2007
2004 Ramey, Hyde Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley ($58)
Medium-light golden yellow color; attractive, forward, intense, slightly floral, toasty, spiced pear aroma with notes of hazelnut, charred oak, vanilla, and butterscotch; medium-full body; rich, complex, toasty, spicy, pear and citrus flavors; well balanced and structured; crisp, steely finish; lingering aftertaste. Should continue to develop and improve with several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. (Group Score: 16.6 of 20 points, 2 of 10 first-place votes/3 seconds/0 thirds; My Score: 17 [91of 100 points], second place)
2004 Ramey, Hudson Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley ($58)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, intense, spicy, apple and pear aroma with notes of toasted hazelnut and vanilla; full body; rich, intense, spiced apple and lemon flavors; well balanced and structured; slightly tart on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Oak seemed a bit more prominent in this wine compared to their Hyde Vineyard bottling. Needs several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. (Group Score: 16.4, 0/1/2; My Score: 17 [91/100], third place)
2004 Ramey, Ritchie Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($60)
Medium-light yellow; attractive, forward, intense, toasty, buttery, ripe tropical fruit aroma with notes of citrus, toasted hazelnut, and butterscotch; full body; rich, textured, toasty, ripe Chardonnay fruit flavors; well balanced and structured for bottle aging; lingering aftertaste. This is the third vineyard-designated Chardonnay released by Ramey this fall. Very highly recommended. (My Score: 91)
Volume 31, No. 1 February - March 2005
2002 Ramey, Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Napa Valley ($90)
Medium-dark ruby; very attractive, though initially restrained, spicy, earthy, blackberry and dark currant aroma that developed depth and intensity as it opened with airing in the glass; full body; big rich, plummy, textured, highly extracted, ripe berry and dark currant flavors with a full, rounded mouth feel; full tannin; hint of bitterness on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Needs another five more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.
(Group Score 16.4, 2/1/1; My Score: 17 [91/100 points], third place)
2002 Ramey, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley ($65)
Medium-dark ruby; attractive, intense, earthy, plummy, ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit aroma with notes of cassis, chocolate, tobacco, and toasty oak; full body; big, very forward and rich, dense, textured, highly extracted, very ripe black fruit flavors with a full mouth feel; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Approachable now with its forward rich fruit though deserving another five years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.
(Group Score 16.1, 0/2/0; My Score: 17 [90/100 points], sixth place)
Volume 30, No. 6 December 2004 - January 2005
2002 Ramey, Hyde Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley ($56)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, forward, toasty, spicy, nutty, ripe pear and green apple aroma; full body; forward, plush, toasty ripe pear and green apple flavors with notes of toasted hazelnut and crisp acidity; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Deserves decanting prior to serving or another year or two of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. (My Score: 93 of 100 points)
2002 Ramey, Ritchie Vineyard, Russian River Valley ($56)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, forward, toasty, spicy, nutty, ripe pear and green apple aroma; full body; forward, plush, toasty ripe pear and green apple flavors with a full, rounded mouth feel and a note of butterscotch; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended. (My Score: 92)
2002 Ramey, Hudson Vineyard, Carneros, Napa Valley($56)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, intense, toasty, buttery, ripe pear aroma with notes of toasted hazelnut; full body; crisp, lemony, pear and green apple flavors with good depth; well balanced and structured; slightly harsh on the finish with a hint of bitterness; lingering aftertaste. Deserves another year or two of bottle aging. Very highly recommended.
(My Score: 91)
Volume 30, No. 5 October-November 2004
2002 Ramey, Russian River ($36)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, intense, earthy, spicy, green apple and melon aroma; medium-full body; crisp, lemony, green apple flavors with firm acidity and a very slight touch of carbon dioxide on the palate that dissipated with airing; lingering aftertaste. Deserves another year or two of bottle aging. Highly recommended. (My Score: 89)
2002 Ramey, Carneros District ($36)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, intense, earthy, distinct Chardonnay fruit aroma; medium-full body; crisp, lemony, green apple flavors with firm acidity; lemony finish; lingering aftertaste. Appearing a bit green at present and needing some bottle aging. Highly recommended. (My Score: 88)
Volume 30, No. 1 February-March 2004
2001 Ramey, Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Napa Valley ($85)
Medium-dark ruby color; attractive, intense, complex, concentrated, ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit aroma with overtones of vanilla and creamy oak; full body; big, rich, concentrated, textured, highly extracted, slightly jammy, very ripe, dark currant and blackberry fruit flavors with overtones of creamy oak; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Shows outstanding depth of fruit with a very appealing mouth feel and finish. Needs at least several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.7% alcohol; 1,700 cases; a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 19% Cabernet Franc; released October 2003. (My Score: 93, first place)
2001 Ramey, Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley ($56)
Medium-dark ruby; attractive, forward, spicy, slightly herbaceous, toasty, sweet cassis and red berry fruit aroma with hints of cocoa; full body; big forward, coarse, dense highly extracted, cedary, slightly jammy, ripe blackberry fruit flavors with overtones of creamy oak; full tannin; rough, course finish with notes of chocolate and tar; lingering aftertaste. Developed and opened with airing in the glass though deserves a good three to five more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.9% alcohol; 775 cases; a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Petit Verdot, and 7% Cabernet Franc; released October 2003. (My Score: 91, second place)
Volume 29, No. 6 December 2003-January 2004
2001 Ramey, Hyde Vineyard, Napa Valley ($56)
Medium-light golden yellow color; attractive, intense, complex, distinctly varietal aroma with notes of hazelnut, vanilla, and citrus; full body; rich, concentrated, firmly structured, toasty, nutty, apple and tropical fruit flavors; well balanced; crisp lemony finish; lingering aftertaste. Deserves several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.5% alcohol; 2,630 cases; 100% barrel fermeted (BF), 100% malolactic fermentation (ML); released October 2003. (My Score: 93, first place)
2001 Ramey, Hudson Vineyard, Napa Valley ($56)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, complex, spicy, tropical fruit aroma with hint of ginger; full body; forward fresh, youthful, earthy, lemony, green apple and tropical fruit flavors; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Deserves several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.5% alcohol; 1,750 cases; 100% BF, 100% ML, released October 2003. (My Score 92, second place)
Volume 29, No. 2 April-May 2003
2001 Ramey, Carneros District ($36)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, intense, well-defined, nutty, spiced apple aroma with notes of vanilla; full body; big, rich, plush, intense, toasty, green apple flavors with firm acidity; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Shows distinctive varietal character and good aging potential. Very highly recommended. 14.2% alcohol; 1,900 cases; 100% Barrel fermentation, 100% Malolactic fermentation; released April 2003. (My Score: 91)
2001 Ramey, Russian River Valley ($36)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, toasty, nutty, apple and pear aroma with notes of vanilla; full body; big, rich, intense, citrussy, pear and green apple flavors; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Distinctly varietal and has potential to develop and improve with several more years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.2% alcohol; 5,600 cases; 100% Barrel fermentation, 100% Malolactic fermentation; released April 2003. (My Score: 91)
Volume 28, No. 6 December 2002 – January 2003
2000 Ramey, Hyde Vineyard, Napa Valley ($56)
Attractive, complex, spicy, ripe tropical fruit aroma with notes of hazelnut and vanilla; full body; forward, complex, toasty, lemony, ripe pear and tropical fruit flavors; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Should continue to improve with another two to four years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.2% alcohol; 990 cases; 100% Barrel fermentation, 100% Malolactic fermentation; released October 2002. (My Score: 93)
2002 Ramey, Hudson Vineyard, Napa Valley ($56)
Attractive, complex, somewhat restrained, herbal, nutty, ripe tropical fruit aroma; medium-full body; rich, textured, herbal, lemony, ripe tropical fruit flavors with good depth; well balanced and structured; lingering aftertaste. Appear a bit more closed-in than their Hyde Vineyard bottling. Very highly recommended. 14.2% alcohol; 1,975 cases; 100% Barrel fermentation, 100% Malolactic fermentation; released September 2002. (My Score: 92)
Volume 28, No. 3 June-July 2002
2000 Ramey, Carneros ($36)
Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, forward, toasty, herbal, ripe tropical fruit aroma with overtones of vanilla; medium-full body; plush toasty, citrussy, ripe tropical fruit flavors; well balanced and structured; slightly harsh on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Deserves another year or two of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.2% alcohol; 1,650 cases; 100% BF; 100% ML; released April 2002. (My Score: 90)
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