- 100% Chardonnay
- Sourced from Ritchie vineyard in the Russian River Valley
- The block Ramey sources from Kent Ritchie’s vineyard was planted in 1972
- Ritchie vineyard is widely spaced, as was the fashion in the early ’70s, and has large trunks that produce small slusters
- Planted in gravelly, sandy Goldridge Loam over volcanic Tufa rock
- Old Wente selection
- Whole cluster pressed for phenolic delicacy
- Native yeast and full native malolactic fermentation in barrel
- Aged for 20 months in 20% new French oak barrels and settled in tank
- Unfiltered
- 14.5% abv
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2023
Country:
United States
Region:
California
Appellation:
Russian River Valley
Variety:
Chardonnay
Color:
White
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | US-RAM-31-23 | 12/750ml |
Press & Reviews
James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2026-01-29
"An opulent, ripe and lush white that overflows with fragrant pear, lemon blossom, baked apple and honey flavors that coat the palate and linger long in the finish. Not too full-bodied at 13.5% alcohol, yet it has the lushness and concentration to make it memorable. It's the last vintage of Ramey Ritchie. Drink now or hold."
Wine Advocate
Score
95
Date
2025-10-16
"The 2023 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is the last iteration of this single vineyard from the Ramey family, who is sourcing more fruit from their estate vineyards and other multigenerational family farms. What a way to go out-it's intensely perfumed and expressive! It floods the senses with waves of matchstick, peach, pineapple, lemongrass and jasmine. The full-bodied palate is highly concentrated with hedonistic, flint-laced flavors. Its generosity is foiled by racy acidity, and it has a long, shimmery finish."
Decanter
Score
94
Date
2026-05-17
"Ritchie is one of those Sonoma Chardonnay vineyards that has become a benchmark over time, and Ramey - a benchmark Sonoma Chardonnay producer - has been one of its longest-tenured partners. The vines were planted in the early 1970s, though subsequent interplanting over the decades has made the blocks a mix of ages. While the site is mostly planted to Old Wente, the pockets of Musque clone running through the vineyard are a big part of what makes this wine so aromatic. David Ramey has long been a purist about Chardonnay, looking at Burgundy, but the use of new oak in the Ramey wines has gradually been reduced over the decades to what they say are 'homoeopathic levels' - barely perceptible year to year, but significant over time. Worth noting that 2023 will be the final vintage Ramey makes from this site, which is quite a shame. The wine opens with a perfumed, expressive nose of ripe fruit with a gentle tropical lean - white peach, sweet white flowers, and a thread of flint underneath. The palate is full and generous, but a lively acidity (the grapes in 2023 were picked almost three weeks later than in 2022) cuts through the richness and carries the wine to a nice finish."
Wine Spectator
Score
94
Date
2026-04-01
"A stunning style, with plenty of focus, intensity and precision to its notes of Cosmic Crisp apple, lemon sorbet and lime sherbet on a sleek and mouthwatering frame. Freshly grated ginger, lemon pepper and vetiver elements, along with lemon balm and a whiff of orange blossoms, all gain momentum on the finish, where grace notes of jasmine tea and toasted sesame seed emerge. Drink now through 2038."M.W."
Vinous
Score
93
Date
2026-01-27
"The 2023 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is powerful and quite savory. Orchard fruit, dried herbs, marzipan, white flowers and chalk all run through this potent Chardonnay. I find the Ritchie a touch aggressive in its contours and not quite as complete as the other Chardonnays in the range. This is the last vintage of the Ritchie Chardonnay at Ramey."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2022
James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2025-04-30
"A generous, abundant, gorgeous wine that's saturated with ripe peach, pear and floral aromas, then rich, creamy flavors that carry a floral touch. Vines used for this wine are 50 years old. A mixture of clones, including some Wente clone, some musque clone and others. Ramey has used the same 20 rows in the Ritchie Vineyard for 20 years now. Such a broad, melted mouthfeel. Drink now or hold."
2022
Decanter
Score
96
Date
2025-01-16
"Legendary for its old Chardonnay vines and unusual mix of disparate soils, Ritchie Vineyard is home to Ramey's 20 rows, planted in 1972. Part of this selection includes Old Wente Clone. œWe have worked with the same 20 rows since 2002,” says Claire Ramey. This wine exudes a beautiful floral lift, while the palate is nothing short of a steel beam of intensity, softened by a juicy core. Layers of citrus peel, apricot, and poached pear unfold, leading to a fabulous sprinkling of crunchy sea salt on the finish. One of the most food-friendly wines in the lineup, it demands pairing with rich fish or chicken dishes. Mineral intensity lingers long on the finish, reinforcing its precision and structure."
2022
Vinous
Score
94
Date
2024-02-13
"The 2022 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is fabulous. A Chardonnay of stature and textural finesse, the 2022 is super-expressive right out of the gate. There's gorgeous oiliness and nuance here. Ritchie is one of the great sites in the Russian River Valley. Vibrant mineral notes play off the wine's notable richness. This is a fine example."
2022
Wine Advocate
Score
94
Date
2025-08-07
"The 2022 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard comes from Old Wente and a few Musqué selection vines planted in 1972 on gravelly, sandy Goldridge loam. The grapes were harvested on August 20, before the devastating Labor Day heat wave. The wine was barrel-fermented, underwent full malolactic conversion and was matured for 20 months in 20% new French oak barrels. It has layered aromas of peach, apricot, panna cotta, matchstick and citrus blossoms. The palate features concentrated, spicy flavors matched by well-integrated new oak. It™s balanced by mouthwatering acidity and has a long, dynamic finish. Powerful yet energetic, it will benefit from several years in the cellar."
2022
Wine Spectator
Score
94
Date
2025-04-30
"A complex white, with lemon tart, candied ginger and tangerine notes that are fresh and juicy, plus dried lemongrass, preserved lemon, lime zest, yuzu, pomelo and green tea accents. The mouthwatering core is generous. Long finish. 265 cases made. - MW"