TN: 2016 Ramey Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard

WINE TALK
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  • 2016 Ramey Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/18/2021)
    Tasted over two nights, this was initially closed up, so I corked it, and put it back in the fridge. 24 hours later the lemon curd, spice and rainwater on rocks minerality all came out to play. No heaviness, yet copious flavor. Bright, mouthwatering acidity kept brining me back, compelling another sip. As so often I found myself wondering why the Ramey Chardonnays do not get more attention. Is the availability a turn off? No hunt, so no excitement? They are at the very top level of Chardonnay, regardless of origin, and still priced in the low (appellation wines) to mid-range (single vineyards).

Posted from CellarTracker

2 Likes
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Agreed! They make lovely wines…unfortunately, they had a cork taint issue in the early 2000s as I recall and I stopped purchases except for the occasional bottle, but I heard that was cleared up so would not hesitate to purchase…if I had room! Another one to add to the “must purchase” list when I settle in to the next home.

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I don’t recall the issue, but everything is under DIAM now, so no taint whatsoever.

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Great take.

These chards are in our top tier.

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David Ramey one of the most knowledgeable winemakers out there. There is nothing he doesn’t know. Never had the wines, though. Been meaning to get some.

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Interesting note, David. Do you think the day 2 showing might have happened on day 1 with some breathing time. I have a couple of bottles of the 2016 myself, and am interested in drinking windows. So . . . ready to go with aeration or hold off? Thank you.

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I think a couple of hours in the decanter would have done the job. I just grabbed this at the last minute, so it didn’t work the first night.

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Their chardonnays are a little weighty for me. Just as a stylistic preference and not to criticize their actual quality, which is very high.

Though you do say “no heaviness,” and I haven’t had that specific bottle of theirs.

You’re probably right to a degree that being widely available makes people covet them less.

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Great note David…I have never had the Ramey Rochioli Chard, but his Hyde Vineyard Chard is one of my all-time favorites…

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The Rochioli might be more up your alley. It’s brighter than the Hyde.

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Love them and the 2018 version of this got 100 points. They get plenty of attention, maybe just not here

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I used to dismiss them. My parents converted me. They served me Hyde Chardonnay year after year.

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What do they retail for David?

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Retail is around $70. I see them at $60 on occasion.

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They have some “lesser” bottlings that run around US$35. At that price, I think the Sonoma Coast/Fort Ross/Seaview is good value. As I recall, they own the vineyard there.

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Agree on the value, but I am pretty sure the now Fort Ross/Seaview bottling is mostly Platt vineyard Chardonnay, which they do not own. I could be wrong, but that’s what I recall from a Facebook exchange I had with David Ramey not too long ago.

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Platt is out by Freestone, not near Ft Ross

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OK, so maybe it’s that they no longer use Platt that makes it a Fort Ross/Seaview bottling. I’m not sure. I know something changed in terms of vineyard sourcing for that bottling around 2015/2016, as the labeling changed.

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As we journalists say, “We could have looked it up.” From the Ramey website:

[The 2018 Fort Ross/Seaview] is the third vintage to come exclusively from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, two miles in from the Pacific at 1,115 ft elevation.

Sorry, it’s the Westside Farms vineyard Ramey owns.

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I looked up Platt on the Ramey site, but then I had a meeting. Thanks for finishing the task!