Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2023

Shafer made this Chardonnay in AVA Napa Valley, in California, from the Red Shoulder Ranch site. The winery was founded by John Shafer in 1972 and is now run by his son Doug Shafer with the oenologist Elías Fernández. The fruit comes from the cooler southern end of Napa near Carneros, where fog and bay breezes pull temperatures down and let Chardonnay ripen to full flavour while keeping enough acidity to carry the weight. The wine spent 12 months in 225 litre French oak barrels, which adds vanilla and toast through the wood and a fine, creamy texture through slow oxygen exchange. Ageing on the lees and the softening of malolactic fermentation, which turns sharp malic acid into rounder lactic acid, build the buttery, layered character of the style. The colour is bright gold. The nose is white peach, melon and lemon with vanilla, toast and hazelnut, and the palate is full and rounded, with ripe stone fruit, a creamy centre, honeyed depth and a long, gently oaked finish held together by fresh acidity. Serve at 11 to 13 degrees in a large white wine glass.