Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is a richer, medium-bodied Chardonnay that stays firmly in the style of the estate. Classy notes of caramelized citrus, honeysuckle, and brioche all emerge from this beautiful Russian River Chardonnay that has both freshness and richness. It’s already drinking nicely yet will certainly keep for 7-8 years.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2016 Ramey Russian River Chardonnay is a satisfying and lusty wine. TASTING NOTES: This wine packs on the palate, making its presence known. Pair its beautifully-designed aromas and flavors of ripe apples, peaches, oak, and cream with shellfish in a savory cream sauce. (Tasted: May 13, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Focused and fresh, with dried, savory herbal notes accenting the fresh-cut apple, citrus and white berry flavors. Finishes with wet stone and spice details and sage cream accents. Drink now through 2023.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.