Ritchie Vineyard

Ritchie Vineyard – Farmed by proprietor Kent Ritchie since 1972, this vineyard produces wine of rare intensity and complexity. With old vines tucked into sloping bench lands that lead into the Russian River, the Ritchie vineyard lies in the heart of the Russian River Valley appellation. A great balance of cooling ocean fog and slightly warmer inland temperatures produce wines with intense, natural acidity with extra richness and lushness. Sandy Gold ridge soils combined with volcanic ash deposits provide great drainage while limiting vine vigor and yield.

Russian River AVA – Centered on Sonoma County’s Russian River, this AVA set the standard for California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Known for its characteristically cool climate, ocean influence blows through the Petaluma Gap, bringing foggy nights graciously soaked up by the vines. The central region of the Russian River AVA fosters ripe fruit with rich mouthfeel and bright acidity, producing some of the best Chardonnay in the world.

Vintage Notes – California’s 2021 North Coast vintage is heralded as superb, excellent, and elegantly structured. A cold, dry winter followed by a moderate summer allowed for a calm growing season. While the ongoing drought led to a smaller yield overall, the fruit ripened evenly with beautiful phenolics and acidity. The wines are already showing fantastic, with signs of excellent aging potential.

Wine Maker Notes – The 2021 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay may be our greatest expression of Chardonnay from this legendary vineyard. Aromas of Mosambi lime, sea spray, and wildflowers excite the nose. Complex flavors of crushed seashell, herbs, and a beautiful balance of yellow peach and citrus zest greet the palate. Integrated from the nose to the surprisingly long finish, this unfiltered Russian River Valley gem will only get better over the next decade.

Accolades – 2021 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay
Robert Parker Wine Advocate, 96 | Even more exciting than past (excellent) vintages, the 2021 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is a polished golden hue in the glass, with just a bit of cloudiness. Don’t let that turn you off, as the wine is fabulously full-bodied, rich and texturally honeyed, with a long-lasting finish that highlights the wine’s flavors of ripe pineapple, guava, pear and citrus. Really impressive stuff, this was barrel-fermented with indigenous yeasts and bacteria and aged in 60% new French oak. Winemaker Jeff Ames only stirs the barrels when sulfuring them, “to avoid sacrificing longevity.”