Ramey Wine Cellars

This was our third time visiting Ramey Wine Cellars over the years, and we were honestly a bit disappointed. While we usually walk out with a case or more, we purchased NOTHING. Maybe this is the influence of the second-gen vintners?

The Ramey tasting room is in their production facility so you are looking for a warehouse. Again, while this is in Healdsburg, we do not suggest walking. Note: The sign on the road is minuscule; I missed the turn. Despite being in a warehouse, the tasting room was decked out with maps, corks, and vases of gravel from the different vineyards.

We were with a club member, but tastings here cost $50pp and can be requested on their website. We sampled six wines: 3 Chardonnays, a Pinot Noir, a Syrah, and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

We weren’t thrilled with any of the Chardonnays. The Fort-Ross was “chablis-style” and finished in a concrete amphora, however the salty terroir of the AVA just didn’t work here. The Rochioli had so much dill on the nose, I sneezed, while the Hyde was just giving off fossilized shells. BORING.

The Westside Pinot was probably our favorite taste of the day as we had tasted there many years ago BEFORE it was a vineyard. Wine Spectator gave it 90 points and wrote a lovely piece. The Syrah was all over the place with notes of orange peel and mosquito repellent. There was the usual red and black fruit, campfire, and dried dates as well as honeysuckle (probably from the co-ferment with Viognier) . The Annum which is 90% Cab, 8% Cab Franc, and 2% petit Verdot was easy drinking with notes of coffee, cherry, and chocolate. It was …fine.