<< Back to All Reviews

Issue 119 & 120 Vol. 19, No. 4 & 5                      May/June & July/August 2007

Ramey 2005 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley        
Ramey 2005 Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley        

Two stylish, well balanced Chardonnays. The RRV is aromatic and elegant; full bodied, crisp, and long on the palate with a finish reminiscent of lemon peel, orange blossom, lime, toast, and spicy oak. 6,100 cases. The Carneros is round, full bodied, and medium rich; a Chardonnay with good flavor and depth, and a long finish. It tastes of apple, toast, toasted nut, and lemon peel. 3,900 cases. [2008-2009]

Issue 116 Vol. 19, No. 1                      November/December 2006

Ramey 2004 Chardonnay Hudson Vyd., Carneros, Napa Valley         Ramey 2004 Chardonnay Ritchie Vyd., Russian River Valley        

Two exceptional Chardonnays, in very different styles. The Hudson is bigger in structure, the Ritchie is a bit lighter, but finer. The Hudson is full, round, complex, and long on the finish, with aromas/flavors reminiscent of lemon peel, roasted nut, apple, pineapple, and toast. 1,120 cases. The Ritchie is full bodied yet crisp, with less apparent weight and more zestiness on the palate, and a range of somewhat exotic (i.e., tropical oriented) flavors, tasting of kiwi fruit, roasted nut, cherimoya, peach, toast, and baked bread. 830 cases. [2007-2009]

Ramey 2004 Claret, Napa Valley        

Best version yet of this wine. Fleshy and full bodied, this is a smoothly textured, well balanced wine, tasting of black currant, boysenberry, toast, cedar, and tobacco. Long aftertaste. [2007-2009]

Ramey 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Larkmead Vyd., Napa Valley        

A fleshy, powerful Cabernet, that is ripely flavored, firmly structured, and very long on the palate, with a smooth, persistent finish. It tastes of blackberry, toasted oak, black currant, cherry, spicy oak, and cedar. 1,360 cases. [2009-2012]

Ramey 2004 Syrah Sonoma Coast        

A spicy, toasty, full bodied Syrah, that is crisp and long on the palate, with a lightly oaky finish. 180 cases. [2007-2008]

Issue 112 Vol. 18, No. 3                       March/April 2006

Ramey 2004 Russian River Valley        
Ramey 2004 Carneros        
Ramey 2003 Ritchie Vineyard, Russian River Valley        
Ramey 2003 Hudson Vineyard, Carneros        
Ramey 2003 Hyde Vineyard, Carneros        

Ramey is producing a range of fine Chardonnays that are excellent values for their respective tiers. The RRV bottling is a firm, full bodied, well balanced Chardonnay, that is crisp and long on the palate, and tastes of lemon peel, peach, toast, roasted nut, and lime. 2,870 cases. The Carneros bottling is mildly fleshier, with good depth and balance, and a long aftertaste, reminiscent of baked pear, peach, lemon, toast, and vanilla. 1,800 cases. The single vineyard wines display more weight and personality. The Ritchie is full bodied and richly flavored; a fine Chardonnay, with subtle, complex character (roasted nut, apple lemon peel, pineapple), crisp acidity, and a long finish. 600 cases. The Hudson is a full styled Chardonnay, that is round and long on the palate, with subtle, rich character, firm acidity, and a long aftertaste, tasting of roasted nut, apple, honey, lime, and toast. 830 cases. The Hyde is exceptional: fleshy and rich, with depth of fruit, evident complexity, and a very long finish. It tastes of pear, apple, toast, roasted nut, lemon peel, creme brulee, and vanilla. 1800 cases.

Vol. 17, No. 1                      November/December 2004

Ramey 2002 Hudson Vineyard    
Ramey 2002 Hyde Vineyard    

Again, two of the best Chardonnays of the vintage. The Hudson is round and full bodied; a medium intense Chardonnay, which is fleshy and long on the palate, and tastes of cherimoya, roasted nut, vanilla, oak, and pineapple. 1,860 cases. The Hyde is a bit fleshier and riper in flavor; a rich, round, complex Chardonnay, with full body, complex flavors, and excellent balance. It tastes of roasted nut, vanilla, grapefruit, apple and pineapple. 2,400 cases.

Vol. 16, No. 6                      September/October 2004

Ramey, 2002 Claret Napa Valley    
Fine blend; full bodied and supple, with evident richness, firm structure, and a long, lightly toasty finish. It tastes of plum, blackberry, black currant, vanilla, toast and tobacco.

Ramey 2002 Carneros    
Ramey 2002 Russian River Valley    

Two excellent Chardonnays.

The Carneros bottling is fleshy, full bodied, and medium rich Chardonnay, with good balance. It has ripe fruit, toast, lemon peel and roasted nut aromas/flavors. Long finish. 

The Russian River Valley is a bit finer; crisp, intensely flavored, and long on the palate, with a persistent finish. It tastes of lemon peel, baked apple, pineapple, vanilla, and roasted nut.

Vol. 15 No. 1               November/December 2002

Ramey-Carneros, Napa Valley
2000 Hudson Vineyard    
2000 Hyde Vineyard    
Among the best Chardonnays of the vintage. The Hudson is refined and complex, with full body, excellent depth of flavor and a rich, harmonious, persistent finish. Very Burgundian, in the best sense of the word. IT tastes of roasted nut, peach, pear, lemon peel, and spicy oak. The Hyde is more forward and luscious in style: a full bodied Chardonnay that is supple and long on the palate, with rich, refined character, and a very long finish. It tastes of peach, melon, toast, honey, and vanilla.

Vol. 14 No. 5               July/August 2002

Ramey
2000 Carneros    
2000 Russian River Valley    
First Releases. David Ramey brought these Chardonnays with him when ye left his position at Rudd. They are excellent wines: the Carneros demonstrates a bit broader structure, with firm acidity and complex character (roasted nut, lemon peel, vanilla, honey, pear, baked apple). The Russian River Valley Chardonnay is intensely flavored, crisp, and complex (apple, peach, toast, roasted nut, and lemon peel), with a very long finish. Excellent.

Vol. 14 No. 1               November/December 2001

Ramey – Napa Valley, Carneros
1999 Hudson Vineyard    
1999 Hyde Vineyard    
These are first rate Chardonnays. The Hudson bottling is very complex & full bodied, with excellent depth and a long finish. It tastes of roasted nut, honey, vanilla, baked apple, and new oak. The Hyde is stunning; perhaps the best Chardonnay of the vintage. It is elegant, full &complex in style; a wine with extraordinary depth & length. It is very supple in texture & tastes of vanilla, roasted nut, lemon peel, apple and oak. Great value.