2016 Ramey Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River Valley

(96 Points) From a site in the heart of the appellation farmed by the Martinelli family, this wine is sparkling in acidity and crisp well-defined flavors of lemon rind and green apple. It explodes in apple blossom and jasmine aromas, with lovely balanced richness and body weight, the oak lending a layering of baking spice. Wine Enthusiast

2016 began with another very early bloom, leading to a very early harvest in Sonoma County; our first fruit arrived August 5. During maturation, summer temperatures were warm and steady, with fewer heat spikes than 2015. Three weeks of cool weather in August and September relaxed the pace of harvest, allowing for methodical picking decisions and perfectly developed fruit. Yields were relatively average – down from 2014 and up from 2015.

We press whole clusters for phenolic delicacy. Native-yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies bâtonnage. After aging 12 months in 20% new French oak barrels (François Frères, Taransaud Beaune, Demptos, and Cadus), this Chardonnay was traditionally fined for clarity during the following harvest and bottled without filtration in January 2018.

Coming from special vineyard sites, our Chardonnays show great depth of flavor, length of finish, aromatic complexity, and a fine balance between richness and delicacy.  Typically, the climate is cool and the soil vigor low, producing graceful yet vibrant wines.