96
points
Ramey 1996 Chardonnay (Carneros)
-
$65
A fabulous first Chardonnay under his own name by winemaker David Ramey (previously of Chalk Hill, Matanzas Creek, Dominus and elsewhere). Smoky and intriguing fruit. Rich mouthfeel, beautiful texture and balance. Very flavorful, but more than that, it shows tremendous nuance and subtlety. Sensuous and profound.
— W.E.
(11/15/1999)
94
points
Ramey 2004 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)
-
$58
Spectacularly ripe, showing an explosion of near-perfect fruit and smoky oak, balanced by crisply elegant acidity. Among the top ranks of Carneros Chards, the wine comes from manicured, low-yielding vines that, in this warm vintage, offer pineapple custard, lemon meringue, kiwi, crème brûlée and vanilla spice flavors. There’s something keenly firm and stony in the…
— S.H.
(5/1/2007)
93
points
Ramey 1997 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)
-
$48
A dense, compact Chardonnay more in the tradition of fat, woody California Chards than his stylish Hyde bottling. Still there is wonderful plump pear fruit, vanilla, and a soft, cuddling finish. It’s ample and weighty, but not at all overdone.
— W.E.
(5/1/2000)
93
points
Ramey 2004 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros)
-
$58
Tasted alongside Ramey’s Hudson bottling, this one’s distinctly different, a softer, creamier, fleshier wine, but no less compelling. From the Napa side of the appellation, the wine is fat and oily in peach custard, butter-and-Cognac-sautéed pineapple and vanilla bean flavors, and while the charred oak is notable, it’s fully in keeping with the wine’s power.
— S.H.
(5/1/2007)
93
points
Ramey 2004 Pedegral Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville)
-
$140
This is notable for two things: It shows the extreme ripeness of the vintage, and also showcases the way even the ripest Oakville grapes veer toward darker-hued stone fruits and berries of balance and finesse. This soft, rich, fat, opulent Cab bursts with cassis, spicy purple plum, black cherry, dark chocolate and sweet licorice flavors, and is best now and for the…
— S.H.
(7/1/2007)