2015 Ramey, Westside Farms Vineyard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California, USA

Quite a hot year. Light nose and a sweeter start than most. Sinewy structure without the intensity of the 2016. Correct and fresh but just a little wan.

Drink 2018 - 2026

This was a fine year for Chardonnay, an early vintage with small berries that gave concentrated wines. Yet this is quite forward, with an opulent nose that's neither heavy-handed nor charred, and a plump, rounded palate that seems ready, though its nutty chewy texture suggests it has good extract. Solid and balanced, it nonetheless appears to have less acidity and flair than some other vintages. Long, creamy finish.

Drink 2022 - 2026

The 2015 Chardonnay Westside Farms Vineyard stands out in this range for its layers of flavor and nuance. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and chamomile all develop in the glass. In this tasting, the Westside Farms is translucent, expressive and all class. I very much like the elegance and finesse here.

It's hard to know where to start with these wines from David Ramey, as the lineup is full of highlights. Among the Chardonnays, the Rochioli Vineyard, a new vineyard designate, is terrific. The Woolsey Road Chardonnay is also quite distinctive. Ramey gives his single-vineyard Chardonnays 19 months on the lees, a standard Burgundian aging regime that is far less common in California.

Drink 2018 - 2025

The 2015 Chardonnay Westside Farms Vineyard opens with quite a chalky nose over a core of grapefruit, lime blossoms and apricots with touches of honeycomb, cassia and toasted almonds. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers both opulence and restraint with alluring honeyed stone fruit contrasted by great tension and minerality, finishing long and layered.

Drink 2018 - 2024

From the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, the 2015 Chardonnay Westside Farms Vineyard is a tiny production cuvée 234 cases) and offers beautiful notes of orchard fruits, spice, and white flowers. It’s classic Russian River with its ripe, powerful, sexy profile, yet like all of Ramey’s wines, has beautiful purity. It will keep for a decade or more.