Bright yellow. Deeper-pitched on the nose than the Hyde bottling, offering scents of pear, vanilla, menthol, nutmeats and minerals. The first of these Hyde vintages to show any signs of development in the mouth, conveying a surprising sweetness to its sappy orchard fruit and gingery spice flavors. This doesn't have the texture or stuffing of the 2010 or 2009 bottlings but finishes with excellent focus.

Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, intense, baked apple aroma with hints of brioche and vanilla bean; medium-full body; rich, textured, baked apple flavors with firm acidity, good depth and structure, and a slight creaminess in the mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended.

2011 is a gorgeous showing for Ramey’s Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay. Flinty minerals, lemon zest, honeysuckle, warm vanilla and some tropical notes are just some of the aromas that this amazing Chardonnay offers. It possesses a remarkable rich, oily texture with incredible depth of flavor. The finish delivers sweet lemons and vanilla notes that make this impossible to put down. The wine was aged 17 months in French and Hungarian oak. It is showing very well upon release and should continue to do so for years to come. Readers seeking out a rich, delicious and well-made Chardonnay that is approachable today should end their search here. (Best 2014-2021)

Vivid gold.  Smoky pear and nectarine on the nose, with hints of vanilla, anise and minerals in the background.  Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering lively orchard and citrus fruit flavors and a bracing jolt of gingery spices.  Finishes spicy, focused and pure, with a touch of iodine.

The Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is outstanding: concentrated, fleshy, and extremely well balanced; a wine with layers of complexity, and a long, crisp, persistent finish. It tastes of candied lemon, honey, roasted nut, crème brulee, pineapple, and lime blossom.