Ramey Fort Ross-Seaview Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2023 - 750ml

96pts James Suckling

A vivid, fresh, almost chewy wine that's vibrant in crisp apple and tangy lime flavors on the signature creamy texture of Ramey. Flavors emerge on the palate, including minerals, chalk and touches of flint and lemon zest. The grapes come from the Charles Ranch from vines planted in 1982.

95pts Decanter

Sourced exclusively from the Martinelli Charles Ranch, located three miles inland from the Pacific at 340 metres elevation, surrounded by redwoods, bay laurels, and oaks. The vineyard was planted in 1982 by George Charles (Lee Martinelli Jr.’s maternal grandfather), and Ramey has worked with this fruit since 2008. "It’s a large, undulating site," says Claire Ramey. "We take fruit from many different aspects, but the blend has been largely from south-west-facing blocks, along with some less west-facing and a few east-facing sites, all sitting at roughly 305 metres and mostly above the fog." Lovely sea-spray aromatics fill this medium-bodied wine's nose and palate, boasting fantastic bracing acidity and an astounding baseline of intense, creamy fruit. Best enjoyed alongside grilled scallops or lobster mac and cheese—the wine’s taut acid backbone and creamy texture will elevate both the food and the wine.

94pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2023 Chardonnay Fort Ross-Seaview comes from Martinelli’s Charles Ranch Vineyard. Originally planted in 1981 to Clone 4 and Old Wente, it’s located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean at 1,115 feet in elevation, and vines are planted in Goldridge and Josephine soils. The grapes were harvested October 18-21, and the wine was barrel-fermented. It matured for 12 months in 10% new French oak barrels and was bottled in January of 2025. It’s surprisingly open on the nose, with aromas of red apple, apricot, panna cotta, graham cracker and citrus blossom perfume. The medium-bodied palate is silky and vibrant, with pure, concentrated, saline-laced flavors and a very long, taut finish. Rating: 94+

94pts Wine Spectator

There's impressive precision and focus to the flavors in this white, with pure Meyer lemon, pomelo, yuzu and fresh ginger accents, plus a crunchy sea salt detail. Honeycrisp apple, lemon verbena and lemon blossom notes emerge on the finish, where the vibrant acidity gives this a firm backbone. Drink now through 2037.

Winemaker's Notes

Minerality and density are indicative of this cool, high-elevation AVA. This viticultural neighborhood hugs the Pacific Ocean, creating wines of startling freshness and liveliness.

About the Winery

Ramey Wine Cellars directly influenced 21st century winemaking and set a new standard for what California could achieve. Success in launching the family’s namesake winery was not preordained. Starting from humble origins, through intellectual leadership and hands-on experience, Ramey has risen to be considered one of the iconic wineries of California.