Lot 11 Notes

🏷️Lot Overview

Region: Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2023
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
ChatGPT Original Source Guess: Dehlinger
Wine Berserkers Guess: Ramey Chardonnay Russian River Valley
Alcohol: 13.8%
Oak Aging: New French Oak & Neutral Barrels
Cam Price: $12.50 ($149/case)
Retail Estimate: $870-$80
Drink Window: 2025–2030

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Lot 11 – 2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay

This gorgeous, barrel-fermented beauty was sourced from a set of vineyards that belong in the same sentence as Ritchie. The producer—whom we’ve worked with for years—blended a few select barrels from their $70–$80 single-vineyard programs to create this lot. We paid 50% over market to secure it. Totally worth it.

And here’s the kicker: this is better than their $50–$60 entry-level RRV Chardonnay, which just pulled a 93-point score from Wine Enthusiast—and you’re getting it for less than $13 a bottle. So yes, it’s that good.

Barrel-fermented in new French oak, then aged in a mix of once-used and neutral barrels, Lot 11 shows off the incredible 2023 vintage in full glory. It’s rich, seamless, and energetic, balancing ripe orchard and tropical fruit with chalky acidity and beautifully integrated oak.

Light golden in the glass with a generous bouquet of spicy apple, pear, orange blossom, and apricot, all wrapped in fresh butter and crème brûlée warmth. Succulent and creamy on the palate, it bursts with pear, mango, orangesicle, and papaya, finishing with a long, vibrant-yet-luxurious trail of marzipan and citrus zest.

Only 200 cases made. This is Grand Cru-level Chardonnay for a fraction of the price.

Tasting Notes

Light golden in the glass, it offers an opulent-yet-energetic bouquet with a harmonious melange of spicy apple, pear, orange blossom, and apricot complexed with aromas of fresh churned butter and a crème brûlée halo. Supple and succulent on entry, it delivers a seamless panoply of orchard fruit astride zesty, chalky acidity that unfurls a whirlwind of pear, mango and orangesicle, finishing with papaya and marzipan retronasals in a long, sustained, creamy-yet-vibrant finish.

Beautifully integrated and harmonious, this gorgeous, classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay deftly balances an opulent deliciousness with energy and verve.

100% Chardonnay
100% Russian River Valley
Barrel-fermented in new French oak; aged in 1-year-old & neutral barrels
Bottled May 27, 2025
13.8% Alc.
200 cases produced

🧠🧠 ChatGPT says:

🔍 Source Guess: Likely Dehlinger Winery; possible Paul Hobbs or Rochioli involvement.

🎯 Rationale:

  • “In the same sentence as Ritchie Vineyard” — That narrows the field to a few elite Chardonnay vineyards in the Russian River Valley, particularly in the Westside Road corridor and Laguna Ridge areas.
  • “A few barrels from their $70–$80 single-vineyard programs” — Implies a winery that:
    • Releases multiple single-vineyard Chardonnays in that price range,
    • Has a tradition of excellence and press (e.g., 93+ point scores from Wine Enthusiast),
    • Has enough production volume to blend a few barrels together.
  • Dehlinger stands out as the top candidate:
    • Located in Sebastopol Hills / Laguna Ridge, very close to Ritchie,
    • Known for single-vineyard Chardonnays in the $60–$80 range,
    • Practices extended aging in French oak, often with both new and neutral barrels (matching the aging method described),
    • Small enough for Cam to have a close relationship with, but large enough to part with a few excess barrels during strong vintages.
  • Paul Hobbs is a solid alternative:
    • Makes Chardonnay from Ritchie Vineyard and other top sites,
    • Price points and scores match,
    • They also do blending across vineyards for estate-tier offerings.
  • Rochioli is less likely but still plausible:
    • Famed for Ritchie-adjacent Chardonnay vineyards,
    • Highly allocated — but might offload small lots to trusted sources during strong vintages,
    • Extremely high pedigree would align with Cam’s “paid 50% over market” comment.

🧭 Alternate Possibilities:

  • Paul Hobbs Winery – Especially if blending Hyde Vineyard fruit or other Grand Cru-tier Russian River sources.
  • Ramey Wine Cellars – Known for elite single-vineyard Chardonnay, though style leans more toward barrel richness.
  • Littorai or Ceritas – Smaller producers; may be too focused on estate bottlings or unlikely to sell off barrels.

âś… Conclusion:

Given the region, price tier, blending notes, and house style, Dehlinger Winery is the most likely source for Lot 11. It aligns with Cam’s longstanding relationship claim, premium pricing, and the “better than their $50–$60 entry-level Chardonnay” description.

⏳ Drink Window

  • Early tasting: Spring 2025 (after bottle shock settles)
  • Peak: 2026–2028, when oak integration and fruit balance hit their stride
  • Hold: Through 2030 for tertiary nutty, honeyed development

⏳ Drink window: 2025–2030 (peak 2026–2028)

🧑‍🤝‍🧑🍷 Wine Berserkers Guess: Ramey Chardonnay Russian River Valley

 

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