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The Rochioli vineyard is located in the Middle Reach section of the Russian River Valley just southwest of Healdsburg. With the river nearby, the vineyard thrives in the foggy mornings and sunny afternoons throughout the growing season. The partnership between Ramey Cellars and Rochioli Vineyards is one between neighbors dedicated to growing and making world class Chardonnay. The Rochioli family still lives on the estate, and the vineyard blocks farmed by David Ramey were planted between 15 and 25 years ago to a variety of clones. The stunning 2020 iwas awarded 100 points by the Wine Enthusiast. Jeb Dunnuck calls it “one of those wines that’s both powerful and elegant, with medium to full body, a great mid-palate, integrated acidity, and just everything in the right places. It’s a beautiful, layered, age-worthy Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.”
If there has been a movement in California away from buttery, tropical-sweet Chardonnay and over-ripe, high-octane Cabernet, surely one of the leaders is David Ramey. Located in picturesque Healdsburg, Ramey Cellars is a craft-winery that produces startlingly fresh and balanced Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards in Sonoma County and Napa Valley. Many of Ramey’s wines express the terroir of single vineyards while others are specific to such appellations as the Sonoma Coast or Russian River Valley. With his master’s degree in enology from UC Davis, one might have expected Ramey’s wines to be faultless and squeeky-clean; however, an early internship at Chateau Petrus imbued him with the belief that wines should be restrained, balanced and crafted to accompany food. This combination of the empirical and the romantic (along with almost 20 years of experience at such wineries as Simi, Matanzas Creek and Dominus) has led him to experiment with indigenous yeasts and malolactic and barrel fermentation in search of a new California style. This style seeks to tame the naturally luscious and vivacious fruit of California with the traditional techniques of the Old World. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, novelist (and wine geek) Jay McInerny has described “his Chardonnays just a little more voluptuous than the average Puligny-Montrachet, his cabs less tannic than the typical Médoc.”
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | Russian River Valley (Sonoma) |
| Winery | Ramey |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Color | White |
| Varietal(s) | Chardonnay |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 8.0 x 30.0 |
| Case Size | 34.5 x 26.0 x 30.5 |
| Alcohol | 13.5% |
| Product Code | RM20ROC |
| UPC | 185983000336 |
| MLF | 100 |
100 points — Wine Enthusiast (Editor’s Choice); 95 points — Jeb Dunnuck; 93 points – Wine Spectator.
Aromas of crisp apple, pear, and melon with hints of spice, toast, and honey deepen as the wine opens in the glass. The creamy yet energetic palate offers citrus and savory notes, leading to a long finish of lemon zest and orange blossom.
The fruit was whole-cluster pressed and transferred to French oak barrels (20% new) for primary and malolactic fermentation and 20 months of aging. The wine was bottled after light fining but without filtration.