2010 Ramey "Platt Vineyard" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

The 2010 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard stands out in this range. A big, broad-shouldered wine, the Platt is actually reminiscent of a red wine in its structure. Lemon, oyster shells, salt and all sorts of citrus notes are woven throughout in this intense, saline finish. Think of the Platt as a California version of Corton-Charlemagne. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020. Once again, I tasted an amazing range of wines with David Ramey. The Chardonnays capture a beautiful middle ground of ripe, California fruit but treated to a long, Burgundy-inspired elevage that relies on natural yeasts and no filtration, among other choices, to bring out the personality of each of the sites Ramey works with. To me, the Ramey Chardonnays have a Chassagne-like richness that is quite appealing, yet they remain laid back in style by California standards. (4/2013)

Light yellow-gold. Ripe pear and peach on the nose, with exotic floral and mineral accents. Shows very good energy in the mouth, displaying pink grapefruit and quince notes deepened by musky herbs and smoky lees. Finishes firm and stony, with excellent length and a hint of white flowers. (6/2013)

Tight and slow to unfold, this reveals a focused core of fruit and spice, pushed along by intense flavors of green apple, ripe pineapple and citrus, ending with a wet stone vibrancy. Drink now through 2020. (Web-2013)