Ramey Cellars, Chardonnay Russian River Valley, 2023

David Ramey is one of California's true Chardonnay masters, trained in the Burgundian tradition — with time at Petrus — and devoted to balance over bombast. This Russian River bottling is his calling card: gently pressed, barrel-fermented, aged on the lees, and bottled unfiltered. The result is a Chardonnay with real poise — ripe orchard and citrus fruit, a creamy mid-palate, and a savory, mineral lift that keeps everything fresh. It's a benchmark for what thoughtful California Chardonnay can be. Delicious now, with room to develop.