Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch Carneros 2023

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Like a sleek Rolls-Royce cruising into the warehouse, the rock-solid, mouth-wateringly delicious new 2023 Shafer Chardonnay is in the house, and it is utter PERFECTION.

Shafer Vineyards is one of Napa’s most-loved and historic wineries. The people behind it (Doug Shafer, of course, and the humble and unbelievably talented winemaker extraordinaire Elias Fernandez, among others) are salt-of-the-earth folks who simply make the most impressive wines year after year, which is so allocated that we never get but a few bottles.

Doug’s father, John, purchased the estate in 1973 and harvested the fruit for their first wine in 1978 – releasing it for sale in 1981. Just two years later, Doug joined the team as the winemaker at the time, coming alongside his father and learning the ropes of the wine business together, to rapid mounting success and critical applause. They call their story not a typical second-generation winery, where one family member hands down the business to their kin after decades of running it – but, instead, a “generation and a half.” A father and son, working side by side.

We’ve always been so impressed with the way master winemaker Elias Fernandez crafts a rich, almost-opulent style Chardonnay, with just the perfect levels of acidity and finesse. Immensely satisfying as always, and our main reaction is bravo! This sells out like nobody’s business every year, so grab it while you can! James Suckling put it succinctly in his 96-point review – this wine always manages to be opulent and oak-infused without ever becoming cloying, fat, or over-the-top. The acidity and freshness are what make this work so well, and the key is the blocking of malolactic fermentation, a secondary fermentation that converts malic acid (think green apple) into lactic acid (think milk). This has always been Shafer’s signature Chardonnay, a style that has won them almost as much acclaim as their world-class reds.

We love the expressive candied Meyer lemon, orange cream, and green mango with caramelized green apple and a distinctive white flower quality that sets this vintage apart from others. Also, there is a notable lift and precision in the 2023 that gives this weighty and textured wine cut and tension. We have just 7 cases of this in store, and it’s sure to scoot quickly, especially with a nice price drop on 2 or more bottles and free shipping on 3! You don’t want to miss this!

PAIRING IDEAS: Bouchon’s Lyonnaise salad. If you can’t get to Napa or Vegas, here’s a recipe. Super easy. Perfect with this wine. Lardons, crisp lettuce, large fresh croutons, and a perfect poached egg... yum!