2023 Shafer - Chardonnay Carneros Red Shoulder Ranch (750ml)

Shafer's single-vineyard Chardonnay comes from 68 acres in the rolling hill country of Los Carneros, where Napa Valley meets the northern rim of San Francisco Bay, cooled by marine breezes off the water. The style is distinctive by design, no malolactic fermentation, with barrel fermentation and aging in 40% new French oak balanced against 60% stainless steel drums, preserving bright acidity rather than the buttery richness typical of the variety. The 2023 shows a more elegant, Chablis-like character than prior vintages, with a terrific nose of citrus peel, honeycomb, white flowers, apricot, pineapple, and warm river stone, all held together by effortless structure and pitch-perfect acidity. Full-bodied yet lively and precise, this is textbook Red Shoulder Ranch, and one of the most acclaimed Chardonnays in Napa County critics have reviewed this vintage.

Region: Carneros, Napa Valley, California, USA
Producer: Shafer Vineyards
Vineyard: Red Shoulder Ranch
Grape: Chardonnay (100%)
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml