2012 Ramey, Hyde Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley, California, USA

2012 Ramey, Hyde Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley, California, USA

Product: 20121199552
 
2012 Ramey, Hyde Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley, California, USA

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Description

David Ramey is a man with the vinous Midas touch. Ramey Wine Cellars was founded in 1996 by David and his wife Carla, after David had worked for almost two decades at such famous wineries as Matanzas Creek and Dominus.

Despite his background making some of California’s great red wines, it is with Chardonnay that David has carved his own niche under the family name. Along with the likes of Steve Kistler at Kistler and Jim Clendenen at ABC, David’s ethos is to balance terroir driven Californian fruit with Burgundian tradition. In David’s own words, “It’s about harmony – the marriage of Old World methods with New World innovations”.

Ramey Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay is a big step up from the Russian River cuvee. From fruit from Carneros’ famed Hyde vineyard, this is brimming with citrus fruit, underpinned with a steely minerality. The vintage has held the slightly tropical notes in check but there is a richness that is the hallmark of this cuvee. Where the Woolsey Rd is Puligny, this is more Meursault like with a breath to the wine. Give it a year or two in the cellar and enjoy anytime over the following five years.

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About this WINE

Ramey Wine Cellars

Ramey Wine Cellars

David Ramey built his reputation at such luminary wineries as Matanzas Creek and Dominus before he and his wife Carla established Ramey Wine Cellars in 1996.

From his earliest experiences in wine, David has been inspired by European styles. Having worked in France at Château Pétrus, he dedicated himself to applying the old-world techniques he absorbed to the perfectly ripe fruit of Napa and Sonoma. At a time when technical winemaking, straight out of the textbook, was the norm in California this made David something of a pioneer on the west coast. He remains one of the most influential winemakers in North America.

David and his wife Carla started small, their first two wines were Chardonnays from the Hyde and Hudson vineyards. To tell the story of their terroir David vinified each in the same fashion, leaving only the quality of the fruit to express the personality of the vineyards. This is a practice continued today across the range of Chardonnays.

In common with most Californian wineries, the majority of grapes are bought in rather than from estate-owned vines. David’s deep understanding of the region and its vineyards have ensured that he only works with great vineyards farmed by great people. His long-standing relationships allowing for a collaborative approach to get the best quality from each site and exemplify their character.

Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon play the leading roles at Ramey, with most of the Chardonnay coming from the cool Sonoma where proximity to the coast gives more exposure to the morning fogs. The Cabernet is all classic Napa. A Sonoma Syrah was added in 2004 and they have subsequently diversified the range with parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir which David could not resist trying his hand at.

David believes that better farming is the key to California’s continued and growing success. They manage vineyards they lease themselves using organic methods and work hand in hand with their growers to promote sustainable and low intervention methods.

In the winery David’s approach is recognisably Burgundian. Grapes are pressed without crushing to avoid skin contact. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in barrel followed by aging on fine lees and battonage. Malolactic fermentation is allowed to happen. David’s view is that the answer to flabby over-oaked Chardonnay’s once popular with the critics is not to go 180° but to take a balanced approach. This is precisely what he has always done – making wines for critics has never been part of the mantra.

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[Los] Carneros

[Los] Carneros

Los Carneros AVA straddles the foot of Napa & Sonoma Counties. The larger portion of the AVA actually lies within Sonoma County; grapes from that part can also use the Sonoma Valley AVA designation. The smaller section, in Napa County, uses Napa Valley AVA on the label.

It is one of the coolest areas in California, its vineyards benefiting from a combination of mountain elevation (up to 300m) and the constant cooling effect of fog and breezes from the San Pablo/San Francisco Bay nearby.

Initially a hot-spot for fruit for sparkling wine production during the 1970/80s, pioneered by Gloria Ferrer, Domaine Carneros, and Codorníu Napa. It has since become a mecca for Chardonnay aficionados and more recently, of Pinot Noir. 

David Ramey is famous for his Hudson & Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay.

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Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.

Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.

Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.

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