2017 Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay California White

2017 Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay

95 JD

Featured Review

While the reds get all the attention from this great estate, they also make a sensational Chardonnay. Their 2017 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch comes from the cooler Carneros region, located in the southern part of Napa Valley, and it offers a full-bodied, rich, powerful style that carries loads of white currant and peach fruits as well subtle floral and brioche notes. It’s a classic Napa Valley Chardonnay that blends power and freshness. Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD

The 2017 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is soft, open-knit and pliant, with lovely pineapple, passion fruit and exotic floral character. Done in a pretty laid-back style, with blocked malolactic fermentation, the 2017 is a tasty wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. The 2017 is certainly pleasant, but not an especially adventurous wine.

Vinous Media | 92 VM

A perennial powerhouse white, this delivers gorgeously constructed layers of rich pineapple, guava and mango, complemented by vanilla and baking spice from the oak. A steely midpalate shows bright acidity that lifts the concentration.

Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

The 2017 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is a little closed to begin, revealing notions of warm apricots, apple tart and poached pears plus suggestions of pie crust, crystallized ginger and marzipan. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers a racy line cutting through the intense flavors, finishing long and creamy.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP

Sleek, spicy and well-structured, with fresh-cut green apple and lemon-lime flavors supported by crisp acidity. Rich and savory on the fresh finish. Drink now through 2023. 5,600 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Type of Wine	California White : If you're in the mood for a creative, compelling white wine, few regions can compete with California, and it's immense varietal diversity. With the pure, potent essence of grapes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, these wines will stimulate your senses and arouse your intellect. Give in, and enjoy.
Varietal	Chardonnay : Chardonnay has carved its path towards the title “king of white grapes” in subtle yet striking fashion, playing instrumental roles throughout the course of history. It was the chosen grape variety which celebrated the inception of the very first Champagne house - Ruinart, which insists “Chardonnay is the golden thread that runs through the Ruinart taste. “ “Remember men, it’s not just France we’re fighting for, it’s Champagne,” Winston Churchill. The infamous and celebrated French author, Alexandre Dumas once declared a high quality chardonnay wine from Le Montrachet was one that is only appropriate to sip “on bended knees, with head bowed.” And of course, history was made once again when a bottle of 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was awarded first prize in the famous tasting of the “1976 Judgement of Paris,” changing the world’s view on California Chardonnay, inspiring vintners and altering the landscape of California winemaking forever. The origin of the Chardonnay grape can be traced back to the small village of Macon in the Burgundy appellation of France. The varietal, whose name means “a place of thistles” in Latin, is the offspring of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc. Like most prominent grape varietals, the exact circumstances of its inception are unknown; however, it is interesting to note that Gouais Blanc originated in Germany. It is speculated that the ancient Romans, who successfully subdued the Germanic tribes in 6 AD, planted Gouais Blanc in French soil, unwittingly prompting the crossbreeding of the two varietals. If this is the case, the history of the Chardonnay grape goes back much further. The Noble Chardonnay grape variety is most happy in the winegrowing appellation of Burgundy, its home and birth place. Burgundy’s grand Terroir of marl limestone soils and cool climate allows the Chardonnay grape to express itself to its full zenith. Interestingly, the varietal is extremely flexible and can adapt to a wide diversity of soils, allowing the terroir in which it grows to dictate the qualities of the grape and thus revealing a multitude of personalities. For instance, there are subtle yet distinguishing differences in terroir in the Burgundian villages of Puligny-Montrachet, Chablis, Meursault, Corton Charlemagne, Macon, etc. which are all fashioned in their own unique way. The difference in each Climat or Lieu-dit, such as Le Montrachet (Puligny-Montrachet) and Valmur (Chablis) can take one further down the proverbial “rabbit-hole” and into the wonderful, yet complex world of Burgundy wines. However, Burgundy is but one prime growing location for this tremendously adaptable grape variety. The spread of Chardonnay would eventually take root in Champagne, where it excelled in the region’s cool climate and chalky, sub-soils. For top Champagne producers, it became the main ingredient in their high quality, high profile Blanc de Blancs. It would also begin to be blended with the two other acceptable varietals of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (red skinned grapes). The chardonnay grape is now planted in 10,000 of the 34,000 hectares of Champagne. Chardonnay would find its way to California in the late 1800’s but would remain obscure for more than a century due to ignorance of the varietal and lack of knowledge on how to marry it with appropriate terroir. Things changed in the 1970’s when Chardonnay saw a resurgence world-wide, mostly due to the 1976 Judgement of Paris. The unthinkable happened when a bottle of 1973 Chateau Montelena bested some of Burgundy’s finest chardonnay offerings from Batard-Montrachet and Meursault. This event helped place California on the map, changing the face of California winemaking forever. It rejuvenated the cultivation of the Chardonnay grape variety, which saw an exponential growth world-wide. Much like the climats of Burgundy which have their own unique terroir, Chardonnay’s adaptability has found a home in the diverse appellations, terroirs and climates of California. The cool climate locations produce crisp wines with Burgundian nuances, while warmer climates produce wines with opulent, ripe fruit reminiscent of pineapple, mango and papaya. Terroir also dictates the personality, steel and concrete tanks versus oak, and the list goes. From buttery, oak-infused heady wines to crisp, refreshing cool climate fashioned Chardonnays, the grape variety can be extremely modified. There are not enough letters in Microsoft Word to demonstrate all the different nuances, qualities, differences of terroir, climate and winemaking techniques that would encompass in full, the details of the Chardonnay grape. The well-travelled grape varietal of Chardonnay has become the fascination of consumers around the world, becoming the most written about of all grapes. Today, it is planted in over 40 countries, amassing an impressive 211,000 hectares (500,000 acres) across the globe. From Burgundy to Champagne, Napa to Sonoma, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, Chardonnay graces vineyards around the world, captivating its audience with its multiple personalities. “So powerful is the ‘C-word’ on a wine label,” as the famed Jancis Robinson exclaimed. Since its discovery in Macon, this C-word has become a dominant force in the world of wine, changing history, winemaking and the understanding of winegrowing and its powerful attributes to a single varietal.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.

Producer	Shafer : When John Shafer made the decision to move his family from Chicago to the lush Napa Valley of California, a viticultural endeavor transformed into a fruitful winemaking career. He had been a successful business man in Chicago, flew B-24 Bombers in World War II and put his engineering degree from Cornell University to good use but this daring move became a life-defining decision. In 1972, Shafer purchased a 209 acre property in Stags Leap which was perfectly suited to the varietals of Bordeaux, or what he identified as prime growing conditions through his extensive research on France’s most popular wine-growing terroir. Here, well above the fog line, it was deemed too cold to grow Cabernet Sauvignon successfully but Shafer was undeterred and began to sample his neighbor’s grapes for verification. Satisfied with his findings, he began planting his steep hillside vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon and in 1978 made the first Shafer Vineyards wine. The wine debuted in 1981 to high praise from critics and consumers alike, setting a benchmark for future Shafer hillside Cabernets and in effect was the forerunner of the highly coveted Hillside Select. In 1983, John Shafer’s son Doug, joined the team as winemaker. The following year, Elias Fernandez was hired as assistant winemaker, allowing John to spearhead the administrative and marketing aspects of the enterprise. This also enabled him the time to organize his neighboring vintners and grape growers to petition the government to designate their region as an official AVA (American Viticultural Area). Four years later, in 1985, approval was granted making Stags Leap District Napa Valley’s third AVA and today is considered one of the world’s best appellations for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon. Shafer’s efforts were instrumental in this historic development. Over the next several decades, Shafer Vineyards would see great success and the addition of many wines to its portfolio. Shafer’s first Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay debuted in 1995 and was named one of the Top Ten Wines of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine. Relentless, which is a blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah was released in 2002. One Point Five saw its first appearance in 2007, which replaced their original label of Cabernet Sauvignon. TD-9 is a label of great significance as it symbolizes the bold undertaking Shafer made from riding commuter trains in downtown Chicago to learning to operate an old TD-9 tractor in the steep hills of Napa. It is a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. Shafer Hillside Select, however remains the pride and joy and is a tribute to the first block of its prized hillside Cabernet Sauvignon and its long continuing success. Cumulatively 32,000 cases of wine are produced annually at Shafer Vineyards, but the Hillside Select is as elusive as it is coveted. Great vintages are difficult to acquire and should be met with great appreciation should the opportunity arise.