David Ramey is one of the few California winemakers who thinks in terms of structure, not just flavor, something that sets him apart from many of his peers. All of the wines I tasted at Ramey’s cellar just outside Healdsburg were terrific. I also sampled a number of older wines, all of which have held up very well. Best of all, most of the wines remain very fairly priced considering the quality of what is in the bottle. My visit ended with the 2001 Cabernet Jericho Canyon Road, which was stunning. At age 10 it remains an infant. I only wish I owned it. The next best thing is Ramey’s new Annum bottling from 2009 forward, the vintage in which the main vineyard source switched to Shartsis, a parcel in Rutherford close to Dana Estates’s Helms vineyard. The Pedregal, from a vineyard in Oakville, is perhaps even better, but it also costs twice as much. The appellation Chardonnays spend 12 months in oak, ranging from 20-25% new, while the vineyard designates spent 18 months in oak, with a higher percentage of new barrels. -Antonio Galloni

ROBERT PARKER RATING: 94+

ROBERT PARKER REVIEW: The 2009 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard is a striking wine. This is the most reticent of Ramey’s 2009 Chardonnays. Stylistically, it is a much more mineral-infused, cool wine in its aromas and flavors, but the voice of the old Wente clones comes through in the wine’s broad-shouldered personality and sheer size. This big Chardonnay appears to have the structure to drink well for years. It is a dazzling effort. This is the first vintage for the Platt, a site that was previously used in the Sonoma Coast bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019.

STEVE TANZAR RATING: 94

STEVE TANZAR REVIEW: Vivid yellow-gold. Explosive perfume of poached pear, peach pit, vanilla and licorice, with notes of orange zest and ginger adding complexity. Sappy, expansive and pure, with juicy, impressively dense pit and orchard fruit flavors staining the palate. Honey and vanilla notes linger on the juicy, penetrating finish.

WINE SPECTATOR RATING: 93

WINE SPECTATOR REVIEW: A classy effort, with a core of ripe, vibrant white peach, pineapple, nectarine and tangerine framed by light cedary oak. Young and tight, this gains depth and finesse. Should reward cellaring. Drink now through 2020.