2006 Red Shoulder Ranch® Chardonnay
Release date: March 1, 2008 Suggested California retail: $47
“…one of the best non-malolactic, barrel-fermented Chardonnays in California …”
– Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
On 68 acres near the northern tip of San Francisco Bay, Shafer harvests fruit for this classic single vineyard wine.
The Red Shoulder Ranch vineyard in the Carneros region offers a long, consistently cool growing season, which is ideal for retaining acidity in Chardonnay fruit. To focus on varietal flavors, Shafer uses only wild yeast for fermentation and does not put the wine through malolactic fermentation.
“The Red-shouldered hawks and other birds of prey do such an outstanding job, we named the vineyard in their honor,” says Doug Shafer.
Winemaker’s Notes
“This is a wine that offers layers of flamboyant flavors on an initial taste while more
delicate layers emerge as the wine develops in the glass – aromas and flavors of honeysuckle,
Fuji apple, apricot, and exotic flavors of the tropics. The underlying acidity is integrated
with warm, toasty oak, and the whole package is tied up with a long, mouth-pleasing finish,” says
Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez.
“… medium to full-bodied with notes of honeyed pineapple, nectarine, and
some spice, the wine exhibits good acidity, purity and plenty of length.” – Robert
M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
2006 Red Shoulder Ranch® Chardonnay – Reviews
“Rich and creamy, both in flavor and texture, bold and extracted, with fleshy fig, apricot
and light nutmeg shadings. Yet for all its power it offers a sense of elegance and balance.”
– James Laube, Wine Spectator
“… this offering reveals crisp, elegant, melony characteristics along with fresh fruit, good acidity, medium body and plenty of tropical fruit and honeysuckle notes…”
– Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate
“Aromas of lime, lemon drop, minerals, talc and spices. Dense, chewy and juicy, with a dusty
tactile texture and a classic dryness. A superripe flavor of apricot nectar is enlivened
by bright acidity and a note of citrus pith. This large-scaled chardonnay harmonized nicely with
extended aeration.”
– Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
“Has the fully ripened fruit, opulence and alcohol of past vintages, yet vibrant tangerine, Meyer lemon and pear notes keep the wine fresh. Full-bodied, with great balance.”
– Decanter
“… big, bold, ripe, rich and very much a California Chardonnay. There is oak and some alcohol here but the fruit supports it. Warm pears, lemon, honey and stone fruit with a mineral hint backed by a savory note. Great structure and balance.”
– San Francisco Chronicle
