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Tina and Brett
When the topic of California Chardonnay comes up, wine lovers can usually be divided into two groups: those that love big, buttery California Chardonnay and those that don’t. This brings us to our review of the 2016 Shafer Vineyards Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay.
Shafer Vineyards is a historic property that dates back to the 19th Century, so, initially, we were excited to try their storied Chardonnay. We’d read mostly good things about this bottle on other wine sites, but given the steely style of Chard we like, we couldn’t help but wonder, is Shafer’s Chardonnay a luxury Napa Valley Chardonnay or oaky butter-bomb? We’ll let you decide.
Who started Shafer Vineyards?John Shafer left the world of publishing to start Shafer Vineyards in 1972. While the brand dates about a little over 50 years, the estate’s land has been producing grapes since the first wave of California winemaking in the late 1880s!
Remarkably, Shafer was one of just a handful of wineries to weather Prohibition. While countless other American wineries were forced to rip up their vineyards, Shafer, somewhat secretly, was still producing a small amount of wine.
When John Shafer purchased the estate, he initially cultivated Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, a variety that Napa is famous for. The winery’s first wine was released in 1978 and has had a devoted fan base ever since. Priced at almost $400 a bottle, Shafer’s Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Napa’s most acclaimed wines.
Today, Shafer produces around 30,000 cases a year. Their portfolio also includes:
Winemaker Elias Fernandez became the Assistant Winemaker at Shafer Vineyards in 1984, before he’d even completed his degree at California’s acclaimed UC Davis. It’s incredible to think that in that time, Elias has worked 40 harvests, and crafted a wine that even made it all the way to a State dinner in the White House.
When asked about his influences, Elias cites Bordeaux’s First Growth wines as inspiring his winemaking style, although he is also quick to add that Napa has its own unique terroirs.
The grapes for this California Chardonnay are grown in the Los Carneros AVA, which includes both Napa and Sonoma—situated near San Pablo Bay, this vineyard site benefits from mildly warm sunny days and cool, foggy mornings and evenings. Northern California’s Red-shouldered hawks are frequently seen in this area, hence the name.
Red Shoulder Ranch is planted with five different low-yielding Chardonnay clones, all of which produce small grape clusters. The juice is fermented in 75% new oak and 25% stainless steel, and wild yeast is used during this process.
USA
Stags Leap District, Yountville, and vineyards in the foothills south of Stags Leap District.
Chardonnay
14.9
Elias Fernandez
49–55°F / 9–12°C
Chardonnay
N/A
Now to 2025
Shafer Vineyards
The 2016 Shafer Vineyards Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay is a pale lemon-green in the glass. A few swirls of the wine reveal a medium viscosity that hints at a rich palate. On the nose, this wine is intensely oaky, buttery, and creamy. Secondary notes of graphite and slate are subtle compared to all of that buttery and oak.
After that first sip, we were not surprised to find that the palate mirrored the nose. The flavors of this wine are overwhelmingly buttery (think movie popcorn), oaky and creamy. There is some peach on the palate, but it’s almost lost against the opulence of the butteriness.
We strive to give you our honest thoughts in these wine reviews, and we have to say that this is a disaster of wine. It’s over-oaked, butter, and not worth the $70 that the winery is charging. If you like buttery California Chardonnays and lots of people do, you can find this type of wine for a lot less money.
If you enjoy wines like Rombauer Chardonnay, LA Crema, or Ferrari Carano, then there is a good chance you will like the profile of Shafer’s Chardonnay.
You can find Shafer Vineyards wines at most bottle shops, but if you’re interested in trying these wines on-site, stop by the vineyard for a luxury Napa Valley wine tasting. Tastings start at $125 per person.
Who bought Shafer Vineyards?
Shafer Vineyards was a family-owned Napa Valley winery until 2022, when the estate and the brand were bought by Shinsegae Property, a Korean luxury retail giant, for $250 million.
What is a buttery Chardonnay?
Buttery Chardonnay is a style of Chardonnay whose palate is characterized by rich, creamy flavors and a smooth texture that reminds some sippers of butter. Winemakers achieve this palate by aging their wines in new oak and through malolactic fermentation. Many “buttery Chardonnays” come from California’s Napa and Sonoma wine regions.
