2016 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Brisk like a sea breeze on the palate, and there's a similar marine salinity on the finish too. Taut fruit, not at all tropical, with ripeness but citric bite making this almost austere. A mealy note fleshes out the palate, and there's a lingering smokiness. (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
From a vineyard in Carneros, the 2016 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard excels on its purity and finesse. Notes of white flowers, lemon zest, and tart pineapple all flow to a medium to full-bodied Chardonnay that’s classic Ramey with its bright, crisp acidity, good concentration, and balanced style. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.
The 2016 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is a gorgeous wine that captures all the personality of this historic Carneros site. Ample, resonant and inviting, the 2016 offers baked apple, white peach, mint, chamomile and lemon peel notes in a super-attractive Chardonnay.
The 2016 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard comes from blocks of the Hyde vineyard planted in 1991 and 1997. Grapes are fermented in barrel with bâtonnage, then aged in 22% new French oak for 20 months. It has a wonderfully mineral-driven nose of pulverized stone with notions of Greek yogurt, lime peel and spring blossoms plus a soft peachy undertone and toasty suggestion. The palate is medium to full-bodied with flavor layers flooding the mouth: ripe citrus, cream and roasted almonds, finishing long, lively and minerally with great juicy acidity. 1,256 cases produced, to be released in June 2019.