Winemaker Notes
After aging 20 months in 20% new François Frères and Taransaud Beaune French oak barrels, this Chardonnay was fined and settled in tank following the next harvest. It was then bottled without filtration.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is a testament to an outstanding site in the hands of an outstanding producer. It is a celebration of fresh Meyer lemon and Graven stein apple woven against an elegant structure and quenching acidity. Editors’ Choice.
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Jeb Dunnuck
From another gem of a vineyard in the Russian River, the 2018 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard offers loads of honeyed lemon fruits as well as medium to full-bodied richness, bright acidity, some subtle toasty, nutty, creamy nuances, and one heck of a great finish. This is another serious, age-worthy beauty from Ramey that will keep for 10-12+ years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard is youthfully wound with soft white peach scents and touches of hazelnuts, flowers and crushed shell. The palate is racy and mineral driven to begin, opening to a soft, generously perfumed finish. Give it another couple of years in bottle. Rating: 94+
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.