99 Points James Suckling
So well layered, delicious and vibrant, combining a rich texture with full, ripe fruit flavors and wonderful accents of lemon curd, flint and baking spices. A great wine from a great vineyard in an outstanding vintage. While generous and full-flavored, it also retains great balance, minerality and a slight sense of restraint in the vivid acidity. Fresh and compelling. Drinkable now and best from 2030.
95 Points Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is classy, elegant and polished. Soft contours and lifted aromatics convey total finesse. Orchard fruit, lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint, white pepper and acacia are all very nicely lifted. This is an especially refined rendition of Hyde. Drink: 2027-2033.
95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is elegant and expressive! Quince and white peach are accented by wafts of matchstick, elderflower, Greek yogurt and crème brûlée. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with concentrated, nuanced flavors delivered in a silky texture. Vibrant acidity adds compelling tension, and it has a very long, elegant finish. It should be long lived in the cellar. Drink: 2025-2040.
Winemaker Notes and History
Hyde was the first wine made under the Ramey label in 1996, and every vintage consistently ranks among the world's best Chardonnay. Ramey will celebrate the winery's 30th anniversary this harvest and Hyde Chardonnay has been a constant. 73% Old Wente field selection (planted 1997 and 1999) and 27% a selection of Calera that Larry Hyde chose himself (planted 2014). We press whole grape clusters for phenolic delicacy. Native yeast and full native malolactic fermentation take place in barrel, with sur lies bâtonnage. After aging 20 months in 20% new French oak barrels, the Chardonnay was traditionally fined for clarity and texture and bottled without filtration in June 2025.
