Ramey Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay 2019

From the great site-a marriage made in heaven with this producer-this wine is vibrant in lemon peel and tangerine. Fresh, focused and complex in structure, it presents a richness of Asian pear and spiced oak that develops as it opens on the midpalate. Lush and weighty, this wine has been made since 1996.

Powerful and sleek up front, showing Honeycrisp apple, lemon blossom, Asian pear and Sumo orange flavors that are bright, fresh and heightened by crisp acidity. Offers sea salt, white tea and nutmeg details on the finish, with a touch of fresh lemon thyme for aromatic flair. Drink now through 2040. 960 cases made.

The 2019 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is a powerful, deep wine at its core, and yet those qualities feel held back. The Hyde vineyard is a race car. It wants to go fast. It needs to go fast. This early-picked style is the exact opposite. I miss the old Ramey Hyde Chardonnays.