SHAFER Chardonnay 'Red Shoulder Ranch' - Carneros 2022 Bottle

Description

The 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch from Shafer Vineyards is an extraordinary wine, earning accolades such as 97 points from Wine Enthusiast and 96 from James Suckling. This elegant Chardonnay exhibits a lively texture complemented by subtle flavours of lemon, toast, and kiwi, all on a full-bodied frame. The mouthfeel is graceful and mouthwatering, enhanced by vibrant acidity that perfectly balances the generous fruit character. Decanter highlights its deep golden colour and hints of spicy ginger, salted lemon peel, and honeycomb, noting the creamy palate layered with ripe acidity. The Wine Advocate praises its pristine pineapple notes, citrus curd, and mocha, delivering a clean, crisp finish. With a drinking window from 2024 to 2034, this wine promises significant enjoyment and complexity.

*****

WINE ENTHUSIAST 97 points
All elegance and silk, this beautifully balanced wine offers a lively texture, with subtle lemon, toast and kiwi flavors on a full body. The mouthfeel is graceful and mouthwatering, backed by acidity that perfectly meets the generous fruit flavors. Making a wine of this caliber in thousands of cases is quite an accomplishment. Best from 2027–2032. — Jim Gordon

JAMES SUCKLING 96 Points
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.

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Jonathan Cristaldi
(at Novato, California, 03 Jan 2024)
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2034
Beautifully deep golden colour flecked with emerald hues. A full-flavoured, round, expressive Chardonnay with a host of spicy ginger, salted lemon peel, honeycomb and sea shell mineral nuances. It is so round and creamy on the palate but balanced by ripe acidity, which seems to hit the palate with such precision that it builds tension only after the rich, sweet fruit character pulls you in. Everything aforementioned reemerges on the long finish layered with jasmine, ginger cream and sweet cedar.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 94 points
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Drink Date: 2024 - 2030
A modern-day classic, Shafer's 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch continues the tradition, delivering pristine pineapple notes alongside hints of citrus curd, pencil shavings and mocha. Full-bodied, round and generous, this no-malolactic-fermentation Chardonnay harmoniously tapers down into a clean, crisp finish. The only quibble with this vintage is that it may show a touch of alcoholic warmth.
Published: Dec 29, 2023

VINOUS 91 points
The 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is bright, focused and aromatic, as is the style these days. Light tropical notes add an exotic flair as lemon peel, lime, white flowers and crushed rocks linger. The 2022 spent nine months in 40% new oak and the rest in tank and a bit of neutral oak. - Antonio Galloni