Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2000

A white wine for red wine lovers, this wine is produced entirely from grapes grown in the Carneros district on Shafer's Red Shoulder Ranch, named for the resident hawks that play an important part in Shafer's natural practices. The vineyard is planted to five different low-yielding Chardonnay clones selected for their distinctive flavors. Fermented in French and American oak using wild yeast, the wine undergoes no malolactic fermentation, so it retains its natural fruit flavors and natural acidity. The Chardonnay remains in barrel for a total of 15 months, the lees stirred weekly to create a rich, creamy texture.