2012 Ramey, Woolsey Road Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California, USA

The wine is lemon-fresh with the rapier-like acidity of the Russian River Valley. The citrus-dominated fruit profile is complemented by a hint of nutty almond and white peach alongside the merest whiff of elegantly integrated oak. Puligny-like in its intensity, the subtle flavour builds and builds in the mouth to a wonderful crescendo leaving a fine, pure, long mineral finish with a refreshing zing. Still a little tight, this is extremely impressive already but would benefit from further ageing to show its true potential. This is a wonderful addition to David Ramey’s brilliant portfolio, and we are delighted that it is exclusive to Berry Bros. & Rudd in the UK. 

The 2012 Woolsey Road is Ramey’s first release from this wonderful site in the Russian River Valley. The vineyard is owned by the Martinelli Family, who have been growing grapes there since the 1880s, and was planted to Ramey’s specification in 2007. The soil is a sandstone-based ‘Goldbridge’ loam full of old ocean deposits and does not contain much organic matter, hence the vigour of the vine is low, and the fruit quality exceptional.
Catriona Felstead MW, Wine Buyer

David Ramey’s 2012 Woolsey Chardonnay is the first time this vineyard has been seen on a Ramey label – this is exciting wine.
As the vines for Woolsey were sourced from plantings in the highly respected Hyde vineyard one should have lofty expectations here, but in short these were thoroughly exceeded.  Made in a traditional Burgundy fashion this has a cool, refined and elegant nose which shows notes of tense citrus fruit, a tweak of lime zest and even gooseberries. This is multifaceted from the very start. On the palate this shows great complexity, a trace of oak frames the pure and persistent yellow plum, ripe apple characters. There is a distinctive Puligny taste and feel to this wine, orange blossom and fragrant pea weaves through the palate.