Lot 11 — 2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Lot Overview
- Region: 100% Russian River Valley (three Grand Cru estate sites)
- Vintage: 2023
- Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
- Oak Aging: Barrel-fermented in new French oak, aged in combination of once-used and neutral barrels
- Alcohol: 13.8%
- Cases Available: 200
- Cam Price: ~$12.50/bottle ($149.99/case)
- Retail Estimate: $70–80/bottle (single-vineyard tier equivalent)
- Claude’s Source Guess: Rochioli Vineyards — Estate Chardonnay blend from single-vineyard blocks (West Block, Little Hill, Rachael’s Vineyard)
- Wine Berserkers Guess: Ramey
- Drink Window: 2025–2033 (peak 2026–2030)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Sourced from a compendium of three Grand Cru Russian River Valley vineyards (in the same league as Ritchie Vineyard), Lot 11 2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a seriously sophisticated but decidedly delicious Chardonnay.
The producer (from whom I have been buying for years) combined a few barrels from each of their $70–80/bottle single-vineyard designates into one blend for me. I paid about 50% over market for the privilege. The producer sells their entry-level Russian River Chardonnay for $50–60/bottle, recently awarded 93 points by Wine Enthusiast. This is better juice — barrel-fermented in new French oak then aged in a combination of one-year-old and neutral barrels.
Tasting Notes
Light golden in the glass, it offers an opulent-yet-energetic bouquet with a harmonious blend 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, delivering a seamless panoply of orchard fruit astride zesty, chalky acidity that unfurls a whirlwind of pear, mango, and orange creamsicle finishing with papaya and marzipan retronasal in a long, sustained, creamy-yet-vibrant finish. Beautifully integrated and harmonious.
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Bottled May 27th. Allow late 2025 minimum.
Claude’s Source Guess: Rochioli Vineyards — blend of single-vineyard Chardonnay blocks (West Block, Little Hill, Rachael’s Vineyard)
Rochioli Vineyards is one of the founding legends of Russian River Valley viticulture, with single-vineyard Chardonnay blocks that are literally in the same conversation as Ritchie — their vineyards have supplied fruit to Williams Selyem and other iconic producers for decades. Their estate single-vineyard Chardonnay designates (West Block, Little Hill, Rachael’s Vineyard) retail at $65–80+, and their Estate Chardonnay — a blend of fruit from across the estate — retails at ~$50–55. That Estate Chardonnay scored 93 from Wine Enthusiast, matching Cam’s clue precisely.
Cam’s scenario — blending a few barrels from each of the single-vineyard programs into a special CAM X lot — is exactly the kind of arrangement a long-term négociant relationship with Rochioli would enable. The “backed up with 2021 and 2022 vintage” language suggests Cam has done similar lots from this producer in prior years, consistent with the multi-year buying relationship he describes.
✅ Confidence: High — 93 WE on the $50–55 entry-level RRV Estate Chardonnay, multiple $70–80 single-vineyard designates, Grand Cru RRV status, long-term producer relationship, and three distinct vineyard sites all align precisely.
Drink Window
Early: Late 2025 — bottled May 27th, needs integration time.
Peak: 2026–2030. RRV Chardonnay at this quality tier typically peaks 3–7 years from vintage.
Hold: 2033. The 13.8% alc and quality sourcing give this a solid decade.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: Late 2025–2033 (peak 2026–2030)