96pts James Suckling

A vivid, fresh, almost chewy wine that's vibrant in crisp apple and tangy lime flavors on the signature creamy texture of Ramey. Flavors emerge on the palate, including minerals, chalk and touches of flint and lemon zest. The grapes come from the Charles Ranch from vines planted in 1982. Drinkable now, but best from 2029.

94pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2023 Chardonnay Fort Ross-Seaview comes from Martinelli’s Charles Ranch Vineyard. Originally planted in 1981 to Clone 4 and Old Wente, it’s located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean at 1,115 feet in elevation, and vines are planted in Goldridge and Josephine soils. The grapes were harvested October 18-21, and the wine was barrel-fermented. It matured for 12 months in 10% new French oak barrels and was bottled in January of 2025. It’s surprisingly open on the nose, with aromas of red apple, apricot, panna cotta, graham cracker and citrus blossom perfume. The medium-bodied palate is silky and vibrant, with pure, concentrated, saline-laced flavors and a very long, taut finish.

94pts Wine Spectator

There's impressive precision and focus to the flavors in this white, with pure Meyer lemon, pomelo, yuzu and fresh ginger accents, plus a crunchy sea salt detail. Honeycrisp apple, lemon verbena and lemon blossom notes emerge on the finish, where the vibrant acidity gives this a firm backbone. Drink now through 2037. 3,429 cases made.

Tasting Notes

The perfect dichotomy of fruit and acid exemplifies the Russian River Valley. The crisp mouthfeel is nurtured in cool sites with low vigor soils such as Goldridge Loam. A classic.

About the Wine

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. The 2023 vintage is 26% Lafranchi, 18% Westside Farms, 16% Sonoma Foothills, 15% Martinelli Laughlin, 12% Kilcullen, 9% Dutton Sebastopol, and 4% Frank Johnson.

The vineyards are mostly planted to UC Davis Clone 4, known for its prominent acidity and large clusters, with lesser percentages of Wente and aromatic clones like Rued.

Winery Notes

Ramey Wine Cellars directly influenced 21st century winemaking and set a new standard for what California could achieve. Success in launching the family’s namesake winery was not preordained. Starting from humble origins, through intellectual leadership and hands-on experience, Ramey has risen to be considered one of the iconic wineries of California.