New Release Spotlight: 2019 Chardonnay, Ram's Gate Estate
At Ram’s Gate, we are Chardonnay loyalists who study this wine varietal with the sole purpose of finding sites that will allow these complex grapes to shine through the bright hue that makes its pour feel extravagantly crafted.
Why? Because from our vantage point, there is no such thing as “just a Chardonnay.”
We believe the delicacy of this wine perfectly reflects the complexity of its ever-evolving years as a white wine favorite while eschewing the notion that all Chardonnays taste like oak and butter.
This is not your typical Chardonnay.
This is our 2019 Chardonnay, Ram's Gate Estate, a classically charged vintage, grown, harvested, and prepared with such precision that it has redefined just how crisp this leading white wine can be.
What Can I Expect from the 2019 Chardonnay Ram’s Gate Estate?
The 2019 Chardonnay, Ram’s Gate Estate has taken a decidedly different path to ensure the totality of this wine does not overwhelm your senses like many of its namesake bottles might.
Instead of a big punch that engulfs the nose and palate, our 2019 Chardonnay, Ram’s Gate Estate was developed from a medley of clones that represent their very own subtle flavors and aromas, resulting in a great expression of our estate vineyard. One we are quite proud of.
This exciting blend is comprised of a Wente clone (73%), which was grown in three separate blocks, a Robert Young clone (21%), which provides a richer core on the palate, and a finishing lot of clone 15 (3%), Mt. Eden (2%), and clone 98 (1%).
The 2019 Chardonnay, Ram’s Gate Estate was fermented in exceedingly small sub-lots, which provided great control over the process and a resulting precision of delicate aromas of orange blossom, summer melon, and petrol qualities reminiscent of Riesling on the nose.
With no malolactic fermentation, the 2019 Chardonnay, Ram’s Gate Estate spent 11 months in 24% new French oak barrels that allowed the clonal selections to effortlessly weave together flavors of honey and lychee combine with a bit of spice, stirring a fruity yet dry response to deliver plenty of drive and poise on the palate, followed by an elegant yet sophisticated finish.
We are excited to watch this wine evolve in the coming years and will continue to deliver the quality that we believe only a great Chardonnay can.
What are the Critics Saying About 2019 Chardonnay, Ram's Gate Estate?
This lush yet crisp 2019 Chardonnay, Ram’s Gate Estate scored an exciting 92 points from Wine Enthusiast.
Jeb Dunnuck gives the 2019 Chardonnay, Ram’s Gate Estate 93 points, saying, “The 2019 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard, which is released with a black label, comes from an estate vineyard in Carneros. It has an exotic vibe in its melon and tropical fruits as well as medium-bodied richness, a layered, textured mouthfeel, notable freshness, and a great finish. It's largely in the house style—elegant, pure, focused—while still bringing beautiful fruit.”
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