Winemaker Notes
The 2023 is true to the outstanding vintage with brilliant, elegant aromas and flavors of citrus peel, honeycomb, white flowers, apricot, pineapple, and warm river stone all held together with effortless structure, lithe balance, and brightness that comes from pitch-perfect acidity.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
So ripe, full and generous, with a full body and a big presence. Lovely apple blossom and lemon zest aromas with juicy apple and Bartlett pear flavors on a foundation of lively acidity. An element of chalky, mineral notes adds complexity and freshness, giving a linear feel to this big, bold wine.
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Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is a very pretty and expressive white. Tangerine peel, mint, white flowers and tropical overtones lend notable aromatic brightness. Blocked malolactic fermentation keeps the flavors lively, but there's also plenty of textural creaminess. This is a fine edition.
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Wine Spectator
A bold, juicy expression, with pear drop, apple and apricot flavors that are juicy and intense. Details of wild fennel, grilled bread, crunchy sea salt, Meyer lemon zest, lemon thyme and ginger emerge on the fresh, juicy finish alongside a touch of yuzu. Drink now. 5,400 cases made.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch shows a more elegant, Chablis-like vibe compared to prior vintages and offers up a terrific nose of ripe citrus, spice, honeysuckle, and subtle tropical nuances. These all carry to a medium-bodied, lively, vibrant Chardonnay that has good mid-palate depth, integrated yet notable acidity, and a great finish. I love it today, yet it should have a decade of longevity, if not more.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Shafer's 2023 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch was bottled in July 2024 and was released in September. It's a distinctive style that eschews malolactic fermentation and marries barrel fermentation and maturation in new French oak (40%) with stainless steel drums (60%). Marked by bright pineapple and lime aromas, this full-bodied effort comes across as ripe and succulent while being fresh and zesty at the same time, with a lingering, citrusy finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Intriguing and attractive, this Chardonnay balances rich flavors with mouthwatering length for a succulent and enticing wine. Aromas and flavors of ripe white nectarine, peach, apple skin and pithy accents of white and pink grapefruit join with well-integrated spices.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Known for elegant wines that combine power and finesse, Carneros is set in the rolling hills that straddle the southernmost parts of both Sonoma and Napa counties. The cooling winds from the abutting San Pablo Bay, combined with lots of midday California sunshine, create an ideal environment for producing wines with a perfect balance of crisp acidity and well-ripened fruit.
This cooler pocket of California lends itself to growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Carneros is an important source of sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne as well.