Ramey Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

Description

Soil & Clonal Selection This is the sixth vintage to be dominated by the Martinelli Charles Ranch on Bohan Dillon Road. The vineyard was planted in 1982 by George Hastings Charles Lee Jr.s maternal grandfather, called PaPa. The soil is Goldridge and Josephine; Goldridge comes from sandstone and Josephine is from shale. The vineyard was planted mixed Wente with other Chardonnay clones. Platt Vineyard is our coolest site and has Goldridge Loam soil uplifted from ancient ocean floor. In 2003, it was planted with Wente selection Chardonnay collected from one of our Hyde Vineyard blocks, the rows are densely planted 3′ and 4′ by 6′ on lowvigor rootstock 420A.Growing Season 2013 summed up to be a perfect vintage with clear sunny days and cool evenings. This roduced a long, moderate growing season with extended hang time and even ripening, resulting in silky tannins and a full range flavors while retaining natural acidity.FermentationWe press the whole clusters for delicacy. Native-yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies batonnage.Aging After aging 12 months in 20% new French and Hungarian oak barrels Francois Freres and Demptos, this Chardonnay is fined and stabilized in tank during the following harvest. It was then bottled without filtration in February, 2015.Coming from these two special vineyard sites, our Sonoma Coast Chardonnays show great depth of flavor, length of finish, aromatic complexity, and a fine balance between richness and delicacy. These two vineyards have typically cool climates, low vigor soil, and a vine selection that generate small berries, small clusters and inherently low yields.David Ramey, Winemaker