Winemaker Notes
This 2017 Chardonnay exhibits aromas of zesty lemon, pineapple, white peach, and lemon lime citrus. This captivating, sleek and graceful Chardonnay is rich and expressive, bright flavors of lemon, pineapple, white peach, nectarine and pear on the palate. Full-bodied, elegant and refined. Fresh, crisp and well-defined with a velvety and fabulous burst of fruit on the long finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Aged 15 months in 25% new French oak, the 2017 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard isn't far off the 2016 in style yet has slightly vibrancy and sexy fruit. Lemon curd, salty sea breeze, white flowers, and some crushed rock notes all define this vibrant, pure, incredibly elegant Chardonnay that has bright acidity, good concentration, and a textured that just glides over the palate. It’s a brilliant Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The nose of the 2017 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard gives up crushed quince, golden apple and poached pears with nuances of honeycomb, white flowers, mushroom, toast and stone. The palate is medium-bodied with a great interplay of fresh fruits, honeyed notions and earthy touches, finishing long, flavorful and fresh.
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Wine Enthusiast
This Ritchie white shows robust, fleshy structure and earthy, floral and complex components of fresh tropical fruit and strong tannin. Full bodied and expressive in pineapple, lanolin and mango, it has plenty of backbone and power.
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Wine Spectator
Powerfully spicy, with a creamy texture and flavors of fig, dried apple and ripe pear that are laced with buttery richness and racy acidity. Minerally notes emerge on the finish. 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.