Ramey Wine Cellars Westside Farms Pinot Noir 2022 Red Wine

Ramey Wine Cellars Westside Farms Pinot Noir 2022 

Russian River Valley, CA

750 ml

96 pts. Decanter:

"The first-ever Estate Pinot Noir from Ramey, sourced from the family's home ranch, Westside Farms, which neighbours Williams-Selyem and Rochioli. This historic site has been farmland since the mid-1800s and borders a mile and a half of the Russian River. "Context is important, especially in a challenging vintage," says Alan Ramey. To illustrate this, they presented the wine side by side with an Échezeaux Grand Cru. "Temperatures are changing, and Burgundy is getting warmer. Our wine has nearly the same TA, pH, and ABV, yet the style is slightly different—and then there’s the value play… this Burgundy costs about $300 more than ours. We want to show that our wines can stand alongside those at much higher price points." Ramey ferments in stainless steel before transferring to a barrel, whereas the Burgundy was fermented in a barrel with 100% new French oak. The Ramey Estate Pinot Noir is aged in approximately 40–50% new French oak. The wine displays beautiful vibrancy, with a light- to medium-bodied character and a gentle sweetness to its red-fruited core. Blood orange acidity and elevated, velvety tannins add a crisp edge. The long finish carries layers of red berry fruit, blood orange, clove, coriander cream, sassafras, and pressed wildflowers, all underpinned by hints of loamy, sandy earth. Savoury and bone dry, with remarkable intensity balanced by freshness."

95 pts. James Suckling:

"Wonderful savory, woodsy aromas and good, complex dark berry and black plum flavors in this full-bodied, moderately tannic wine. Elements of pine, redwood bark, bay laurel, black raspberries and wood smoke. Made using one-fourth whole clusters, with skin contact of three weeks and barrel aged for 20 months, all of which emphasize the savory aspects. Drink now or hold."

The folks at Ramey bought this plot of land along the Russian River, planted it to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and named it Westside Farms. This is their inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from that vineyard. It's absolutely lovely, not heavy on the oak, and a joy to drink! Ramey uses a Burgundian approach with this wine, resulting in a more elegant and a bit more restrained wine than many Russian River Valley Pinots. In a word, it tastes expensive! - Wine Factor 

FROM THE WINERY 

Westside Farms, our 75-acre ranch on Westside Road, has been in use as farmland since the middle 1800s. Almost a third of the property remains as wild, riparian habitat. The Pinot Noir is planted on an east-facing slope where soil is mostly Sobrante clay loam, with 5 to over 75% metamorphic rock (greenstone, blueschist, and greywacke).

Clonal Selection This vintage is 52% Pommard, 31% Clone 777, and 17% Clone 115.

VINTAGE

Growing Season Rainfall in the 2022 season fell short of average, leading to a third year of drought. Moderately warm temperatures through July helped acclimatize vines before heat spikes in mid-August and early September spurred harvest. Harvest’s quick pace slowed to a crawl after the heat, however. The remaining sites hung for another five weeks, till late October.

Harvest Date: August 18 & 19

Brix 23.1˚

WINEMAKING

Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir

Fermentation Tank fermented with native yeast and 25% whole cluster. Native malolactic fermentation in barrel.

Aging: As traditionally practiced in Burgundy, we use an anaerobic approach with our Pinot Noir to preserve freshness. It is aged sur lies with monthly bâtonnage and spent 18 months in 45% new French barrels (François Frères). The wine was then lightly fined with egg white and bottled without filtration in June 2024.

"Westside Farms, our 75-acre ranch, has been in farmland since the mid-1800s and borders a mile and a half of the Russian River. Our Pinot Noir strikes a fine balance between rich, jammy styles and leaner, coastal styles. It is at once both elegant and delicious." – David Ramey