Ramey Wine Cellars Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley is a 100% Chardonnay crafted by David and Carla Ramey, who founded the winery in 1996 in Healdsburg, California with a commitment to producing classically styled, elegant wines built to age beautifully. Sourced from premier cool-climate vineyard sites across the Russian River Valley — including Lafranchi, Westside Farms, Sonoma Foothills, Martinelli Laughlin, Kilcullen, and Dutton Sebastopol — the grapes are grown on Goldridge Loam soils planted predominantly to UC Davis Clone 4, prized for its prominent acidity and large clusters, with lesser percentages of Wente and aromatic clones such as Rued.

Whole clusters are pressed for phenolic delicacy, then fermented with native yeasts, with full native malolactic fermentation taking place in barrel alongside sur lies bâtonnage. After 12 months of aging in 10% new French oak barrels (Taransaud Beaune and François Frères), the wine is traditionally fined for clarity and bottled without filtration. The result is a full-bodied, richly textured Chardonnay with vibrant, snappy acidity and a layered aromatic profile of crisp apple, lemon curd, lime blossom, pastry crust, mandarin orange, and hints of fresh-grated ginger and lemon verbena. Sea salt minerality and notes of toasted green tea, citrus zest, and white pepper linger on the creamy-tangy finish. The wine has earned exceptional critical recognition, including 95 points from Wine Enthusiast and 94 points from Wine Spectator.