2018 Chardonnay Ritchie
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Always one of the standouts from Ramey, the 2018 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is no exception and has a Grand Cru Burgundy nose of chalky minerality, exotic flowers, brioche, and assorted stone and orchard fruits. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay that's concentrated, has a structured mouthfeel, integrated yet bright acidity, and a great finish. It will be best with 2-4 years of bottle age (it's delicious even today) and will drink well over the following decade if stored properly.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is wound up at this early stage and will require at least 2-3 years to blossom in bottle. The nose offers pure lilac, beeswax and apricot perfume with honeyed undertones, while the silky, fresh, mineral-driven palate gains amplitude on the long finish. 767 cases were made.
The 2018 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is a powerful, almost bombastic wine. It has a ton of energy, but that energy seems to be going in a lot of different directions. Intensely mineral, stony and chalk notes dominate, while the fruit is very much in the background. Dried flowers, sage, mint and chalk linger on the intense, pointed finish. The 2018 needs at least a year or two in bottle.