Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
David Ramey made his first Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay in 1996 from a block planted at the entrance to the vineyard in 1980, using the old Wente selection. He still uses that block, and blended it with three others for this elegant 2006. His most recent release combines gentle, earthy power with firm fruit flavors that keep evolving in the glass. It develops from light pineapple to white peach and red-skinned pear, always underlined by that austere, earthy structure. The finish is rainwater fresh. Decant it for pork tenderloin roasted with apples.
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.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.