“Bursts with profound notions…” – The Wine Independent

Wanna get RITCHIE rich?!

It’s bound to happen by saving a whopping 65% OFF a 95-pointer single vineyard treasure from one of the most coveted vineyards around.

Operatives know how much we value great winemaking. Yet, with some vineyards, the source matters far less than who made the wine. So, let’s get that part out of the way first.

The Ritchie Vineyard is, as PinotFile acutely states, “California’s Legendary Grand Cru Chardonnay Vineyard” and a quick glance at the “Ritchie registry” reveals names like Aubert, DuMOL, Ramey, AXR, Bevan, Addax, Paul Hobbs, Gary Farrell, Joseph Swan.

As one of the few lucky winemakers, upon being granted access to Ritchie fruit famously said, “Plenty of people become Chardonnay fans after drinking a Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay.”

But with prices of many of those aforementioned names tipping north of $100, it’s not quite accessible to us regular, budget-minded Chardonnay lovers. Until now.

You’ll remember Kale Anderson from some killer steals we’ve been featuring. His resume is overflowing with big names, Colgin, Cliff Lede, Terra Valentine, Domaine de la Rivière, and Pahlmeyer, where he crafted many epic Chardonnays, while becoming the youngest winemaker to attain a perfect score from Wine Advocate! For the past decade, he has been making only about a thousand cases a year under his own label. Not much makes it outside his tasting room or mailing list, which makes this an insider’s find.

While the Kale label exclusively works with Rhône varietals, under that same umbrella, he joined forces with the Eppright family of Parable wines, where he is also the winemaker, and they called that line Kale David to make Cabernets and Chardonnays from some of the best vineyards in California, such as Hyde, and you guessed it, Ritchie, famous for its structure, intensity, and longevity.

Evidently, at the tender young age of five, this Chardonnay is at its peak drinkability, when laser-focused acidity becomes one with the famous fat you find in cult Chardonnays. Baking spices and Tahitian vanilla linger merrily with tropical fruits and crème brûlée. Astoundingly complex wine for, what, $33?!

As a Wine Spectator spotlight points out, “Along the way, Kale Anderson worked at the side of Mark Aubert, Philippe Melka and David Abreu, who each helped shape his meticulous approach in the vineyard and cellar. ‘They taught me more about what not to do than what to do,’ jokes Anderson. ‘But the one takeaway was to spare no expense in the vineyard.’ Anderson tailors each wine to the vintage and the vineyard. ‘It all comes down to the raw materials,’ he says.”

How can you argue with that AND 65% OFF?! Few cases, here today, gone tomorrow.

95 Points – The Wine Independent “The 2020 Kale David Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay bursts with profound notions of spiced pears, pineapple upside-down cake, and apple butter, with suggestions of candied ginger, croissant, and butterscotch. The full-bodied palate fills the mouth with creamy textured tropical and stone fruit flavors, lifted by balancing acidity, finishing long and spicy. Drink 2023-2029.”