Winemaker Notes
#37 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of the World 2025
A constant in Ramey’s history, and every vintage consistently ranks among the world’s best Chardonnays.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This outstanding, age-worthy wine shows all the richness, breadth and depth typical of this singular property on the Napa side of Carneros. It is ripe and fruity in aromas, creamy in texture and layered in pastry, baked apple, nutmeg and vanilla bean flavors. Poached pears, marzipan, lemon zest and meringue flavors expand on the palate. Such a long, lingering finish, too. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.
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Decanter
First made in 1996, Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay was the first wine produced at Ramey. ‘I knew Larry Hyde from my time at Matanzas Creek because Merry Edwards, whom I replaced, was selling Sémillon to him,’ recalls David Ramey. ‘Larry was the first guy I called after quitting Dominus. I remember sitting in a car with Larry as a new moon rose, and I said, "That’s a good sign." So, we never had a written contract—just a handshake. As you drive into Hyde, there’s the Old Wente on the right, and that’s where we started.’ This Chardonnay is super dense and concentrated, with layers of ginger spice and salty, mineral-rich intensity. The palate unfolds with a long, saline-driven aromatic richness and an unmistakable umami character. Incredibly long-lasting, it delivers tremendous concentration, richness, and freshness. Lively and spicy, with intense fruit expression and incredible depth and length. It is a compelling and complex expression of Old Wente Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is expressive on the nose with notes of toasted spices, preserved citrus, fresh floral perfume, Marcona almond, and smoky earth. The palate has a full-bodied but elegant frame and a delicately rounded elegant finish with hints of pretty almond and floral perfume.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard comes from Old Wente and Calera vines planted in 1997, 1999 and 2014. The grapes were harvested on August 19 and September 2, before the devastating Labor Day heat wave. Barrel-fermented and matured for 20 months in 20% new French oak barrels, initial tones of candle smoke and matchstick on the nose give way to baked peach, meringue and citrus blossom aromas. The medium-bodied palate is intensely concentrated and features candied citrus and mineral flavors. Its power is balanced by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a finish that goes on and on.
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Wine Spectator
Stunning and impressive for its purity and intensity, with a core of Meyer lemon, tangerine, pineapple and crunchy star fruit flavors. Details of lemon verbena, vetiver and ginger, along with hints of white tea and white pepper, bring more complexity into focus on a sleek and mouthwatering frame.
David Ramey is among a distinguished group of pioneering American vintners who revolutionized modern-day winemaking and elevated California to the forefront of the international wine community. Hailed as “Professor Chardonnay” by Wine Spectator, David's groundbreaking work with indigenous yeasts, sur lies aging and malolactic and barrel fermentation yielded a new California Chardonnay style that was richer, more lush and silky smooth. Ramey Wine Cellars crafts exceptional expressions of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Pinot Noir from top vineyards in Sonoma and Napa.
After earning a graduate degree at UC Davis, with his thesis on how aromas evolve in wine, David Ramey pursued a hands-on education in Old World winemaking traditions. He worked at Chateau Pétrus and would later apply these time-honored methods to California’s premier vineyards. In California, David led winemaking for Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus Estate and Rudd Estate. In 1996, David and his wife Carla founded Ramey Wine Cellars with the vision of crafting classically styled, elegant and balanced wines that age beautifully.
Still exclusively owned by the Rameys, the next generation, Claire and Alan Ramey, became co-presidents of the winery in 2021. Claire and Alan began working at the winery in 2013 and have been cross-trained in all aspects of winery operations. Decanter greeted the news of Ramey’s status as a multigenerational winery by saying: "its reputation as a touchstone for world-class Chardonnay remains firmly in place… The Ramey family is expected to go from strength to strength." The vision is unwavering: to make classic wines from Sonoma and Napa that belong amongst the world's best. Tastings are offered by appointment in Healdsburg.
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.