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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 89 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Tinram on 3/26/2023 & rated 94 points: Great wine. Lots of tropical fruit, pineapple, apricot, also some yellow apple. Balanced acidity and some oak and butter in nice harmony. Rich and generous. Served to a cod with cafe de Paris-butter and a purée on Jerusalem artichoke. (673 views) | | | Tasted by West Coast Wine on 3/10/2023 & rated 93 points: This is in a great place right now. Still has bright acidity and citrus/tropical fruit on the nose. Not showing much signs of age in the glass at all. Lighter body/mouthfeel that some other vintages but a long finish. This is tasting great right slightly chilled and seems to be transitioning from the bright citrus and fresh tropical fruits to a bit more ripe fruit and just a touch of oak and caramel flavors but not prevalent. Drink now if you enjoy this wine younger and maybe over the next year. If you enjoy with more age give it a couple more years. Will revisit this one over then next 4-5 years to see how it evolves. (565 views) | | | Tasted by bhouk on 2/14/2023: Prime drinking — rich; honeyed and tropical. A big wine, without question, but more stately than prior bottles; speaks authoritatively without raising its voice. With lobster rolls and mashed sweet potatoes. (621 views) | | | Tasted by WhooskeyWine on 10/16/2022 & rated 92 points: Lemon-hued. Aromas of apricot, butter, citrus, coconut, cream, and pear, with notes of almond, brioche, coconut, and minerals on the palate. Medium-plus body with medium-plus acidity. A long, creamy finish. (943 views) | | | Tasted by bhouk on 1/30/2022: Rich, tropical, very long and full bodied, finishing clean and fresh. A good wine that I would think better of if it came across with more subtlety. (1689 views) | | | Tasted by rougeamore on 10/15/2021 & rated 92 points: The Red Shoulder Ranch has medium intensity aroma's of lemon, tropical fruit and white flowers. On the palate, prominent notes of pineapple and citrus. The wine is crisp with medium acidity. Very nice indeed. (1599 views) | | | Tasted by Baron Slick on 9/5/2021 & rated 93 points: I really like the vibrant and energetic intensity here. The nose is loaded with ripe, tropical fruit aromas complemented by a pretty floral persistence. But the palate is where it's at. It's fleshy and velvety, long and broad, with tons of vitality, succulent acidity and a kiss of botrytis-like complexity. Baking spices lace the long finish. Outstanding. (1424 views) | | | Tasted by wmccone54 on 5/14/2021 & rated 92 points: This is the eighth or ninth vintage of this wine which I’ve enjoyed. Always a consistent style, never goes through malolactic fermentation, which provides freshness and acidity. Perfect accompaniment to garlic shrimp and pasta. Displays nice balance of fruit, fresh acidity and judicious oak influence; developing to early mature complexity and range; concentrated intensity; and a long and lengthy finish. Pricey, but high quality. Should drink well for another 3-5 years depending upon cellar conditions. (1985 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 5/4/2021 & rated 92 points: This is a really nice bottle of chardonnay. The nose is floral. The palate white flowers, lemon peel, a touch of mint and some a little oak keeping everything in balance. Finish was very nice. We served alongside pan steamed swordfish with onions, olives, capers and pignolis. Some of the wine went into making the sauce to steam the fish. (1894 views) | | | Tasted by winejnky on 4/17/2021 & rated 92 points: Very good as always; this vintage is a little sweet compared to some, but not cloyingly so. We love the tropical fruit flavors balanced with citrus and some nice minerality on the finish. (1375 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 11/24/2020 & rated 92 points: This is a really nice bottle of chardonnay. The nose is floral. The palate white flowers, lemon peel, a touch of mint and some a little oak keeping everything in balance. Finish was very nice. Served with baked lemon sole. Just as an aside do not serve it too cold the closer to room temperature the nicer the wine. (1852 views) | | | Tasted by Holadi on 9/19/2020 & rated 91 points: Fresh. Well balance. (1727 views) | | | Tasted by OmiyaDrinker on 9/19/2020 & rated 84 points: Judgement of Singapore - Chardonnay Edition (Home): OTT. Sweet, creme brulee, pushed too far. Personally, I can't tell the difference between this and cheap Cali Chard in terms of the character. (1581 views) | | | Tasted by jtprigg on 8/30/2020 & rated 90 points: Acidic, crisp, high alcohol, apricots, and generally nice Chardonnay. (1444 views) | | | Tasted by bhouk on 8/20/2020: I will admit that if I saw this at nearly 15% abv on a wine list I’d look for something else. I had it at a tasting a year or so ago and didn’t notice the alcohol. Bought 3 bottles. Opened the first of the three tonight and really enjoyed it with flounder and crab. Wouldn’t have known how high the alcohol was if I hadn’t been reading the back label. I found it to be quite poised and completely in balance. My batting average on wines this high in alcohol is still low, but this was plenty good and is yet another example of why rules of thumb are useful, while absolutism and doctrinaire rigidity are best avoided. (1370 views) | | | Tasted by Genghis88 on 5/29/2020 & rated 90 points: @ l'il Robs
Golden hue,
Lemon butter off the nose, green hay, honey dew
Round, light oak, buttery smooth, medium plus finish
Really good Napa style Chard. Well made.
Smoked a C+A 60 (1590 views) | | | Tasted by markcic on 5/6/2020 & rated 92 points: After opening a bottle of Forman that was oxidized I went to the wine fridge to grab a 2015 and took this by accident. This is a really nice bottle of chardonnay. The nose is floral. The palate white flowers, lemon peel, a touch of mint and some a little oak keeping everything in balance. Finish was very nice. Served with baked lemon sole. (1584 views) | | | Tasted by maxima on 3/4/2020 & rated 88 points: Bu en succ dans la machine à dégustation au verre.
Ample et assez boisé, presque gras comme texture.
C'est big, assez in your face.
Pour amateur averti, comme le reste des vins
de cette maison, pour la finesse et
la complexité, c'est pas ici que je vais trouver. (2664 views) | | | Tasted by ralaspech on 2/21/2020 & rated 91 points: Nose of pineapple, orange, apple, mineral and oak. Tastes of apple, pineapple, orange, toast and oak. Vibrant acidity with a smooth mouthfeel. It took a while for me, but it is finally coming into its own! (1578 views) | | | Tasted by Francophile1 on 1/10/2020 & rated 90 points: Consistently one of my favorite Chardonnay’s from California. Paired great with seared scallops. (1881 views) | | | Tasted by Costes76 on 1/7/2020 & rated 94 points: Normal dinner night made special + Bday 2021. Medium yellow color with a greenish tinge. Pronounced aromas of honey and stone fruit. Dry, bright acidity, medium body, taste of peaches, pineapple, caramel and some butter. Medium body. Great balance. Medium long finish. Novel take that really blossoms once opened up. (1642 views) | | | Tasted by cono_sur on 10/18/2019 & rated 92 points: Ripe, fairly intense nose of apple, pear, orchard fruit, butterscotch, oak, and vanilla. It is medium-full bodied and structured with ripe aroma replays plus some spicy notes, all supported by vibrant acids. Long, juicy finish. Drink over the next 7-8 years. (1838 views) | | | Tasted by Hi.its.Don.4.Wine on 10/3/2019 & rated 92 points: Since its debut in 1995 of the acclaimed 1994 Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, this extraordinary Chardonnay has continued to delight many a wine drinker. Not surprising when you realize that was the same year that Doug Shafer took control of the winery along with their new Winemaker, Elias Fernandez. Doug becoming winemaker at Shafer in 1983 and in 1984 they hired Elias as assistant winemaker. While I can’t confirm, this has to be one of the longest-running duets in winery history, and if it’s not, it’s still pretty darn amazing!
Likewise, the wine follows suit. Having done a review of the 2010 Red Shoulder Ranch, this is the second I have “Officially” done. I’m not sure, but it seems I’ve drunk each and every vintage of this wine for the last 5 to 6 years, maybe longer.
This was one of those times when I needed something to pair with a simple meal, Salmon, Rice and a Veggie (usual fare), but wanted to splurge a little on the wine. Didn’t take long for me to spot this familiar label and without hesitation, pluck it from the rack and put an extra chill on it to begin.
Once poured, I started my adventure into the wine; aromas of tropical fruit and a honeyed scent rose to the occasion. Stone fruit flavors arriving on the palate along with a nice backbone consisting of a rustic finish. There is also vibrancy to the wine due to the lack of Malolactic Fermentation. While my review of 2010 required some time for the wine to emerge, 2016 did not require time. It was wonderful from start to finish, okay; it might have improved a skosh!
This single-vineyard Carneros-grown Chardonnay is produced from grapes selected for their low yields. The wine matures on the lees for 14 months. Whole-cluster pressed and fermented with wild yeast in individual barrels (75% French oak barrels (Allier, Vosges), 25% stainless steel). The vineyard received its name for the Red-Shouldered Hawks and other birds of prey dwelling in the region.
Love Chardonnay; try this one if you haven’t already.
Cheers (1938 views) | | | Tasted by jsmorris707 on 9/30/2019 & rated 94 points: Same as last bottle (1876 views) | | | Tasted by jsmorris707 on 9/25/2019 & rated 94 points: Similar to prior notes, but a little better after a splash decant; drink or hold (1735 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Sara d'Amato
WineAlign (11/7/2019)
(Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley/Carneros white) Subscribe to see review text. | By Michael Godel
WineAlign (11/4/2019)
(Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley/Carneros white) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (11/4/2019)
(Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, Napa Valley/Carneros white) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, North Coast Part 1: Napa Valley's Incredible 2016s (1/31/2019)
(Shafer Chardonnay White) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Napa Valley’s Extraordinary 2016 Cabernets (Dec 2018) (12/1/2018)
(Shafer Vineyards Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch Napa Valley White) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of WineAlign and JebDunnuck.com and Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Shafer Producer website
John Shafer and his family founded Shafer Vineyards, located in the Stags Leap District of the Napa Valley, in 1979. From the Shafers' first wine, a 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon,
their wines have won much acclaim. Today, the Shafers farm 200 acres of vineyard in the Stags Leap District, Carneros and Oak Knoll regions. Their flagship wine, Hillside Select,
is produced from selected blocks of the family's hillside vineyards and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. They also produce Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, Merlot, One Point Five
(Cabernet Sauvignon) and Relentless (a Syrah/Petite Sirah blend), which was named #1 wine of the year by Wine Spectator's "Top 100" of 2012.Chardonnay The Chardonnay GrapeUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa / SonomaSONOMA: The Yorkville Highlands AVA, approved in 1998, is located in the southwestern corner of Mendocino County, between Sonoma County's Alexander Valley to the South and Mendocino County!s Anderson Valley to the North. The region is 25 miles long, roughly in the shape of rectangle and bisected by Highway 128 which runs the length of the AVA. The region!s terrain is hilly and forested, with elevations ranging from 1,078 to 2,442 feet above sea level.
The distinguishing features of the Yorkville Highlands AVA are rocky soils with a high gravel content and the climate, which is cooler than Alexander Valley but warmer than Anderson Valley, and significantly cooler at night than the surrounding areas.CarnerosStraddles the southern ends of Napa & Sonoma Counties. |
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