Shafer "Red Shoulder Ranch" Chardonnay 2024
(Carneros, Napa Valley, California) - [JS 95] [WA 94] [VM 94] [JD 93] [WS 93]

About the Winery:
Shafer Vineyards is an iconic family-owned winery, named one of the top 25 vineyards in the world by wine publication Wine & Spirits and “one of the world’s greatest wineries” by wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Since 1978 the Shafer family has produced wine in the Stags Leap District, one of the most highly-regarded winegrowing regions within Napa Valley. Shafer’s wines, including its signature wine, Hillside Select, are found in collectors’ cellars and on wine lists in top hotels and restaurants throughout the world.

The small winery is managed by Doug Shafer, son of winery founders John and Bett Shafer. Elias Fernandez is winemaker. 

About this Wine:
Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay is a wine that bears the elegant imprint of its vineyard home – 68 acres that roll across the pastoral hill country of Los Carneros, a place where Napa Valley meets the northernmost rim of San Francisco Bay. It is named to honor the Red-shouldered Hawks and other birds of prey who play a key role in the winery's sustainable farming program. Year after year this Shafer-owned vineyard offers up wine with plush, exotic, zesty aromas and flavors.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes:
This luminous Chardonnay fills the glass with elegant aromas of citrus blossom, honeysuckle, and exotic spice. Flinty minerality and bright honeydew melon add lift, while vibrant acidity and lithe structure create a sense of purity and poise. Beautifully balanced, it delivers energy, freshness, and lasting finesse.

Technical Information

Vineyard Location: Shafer’s Red Shoulder Ranch in Carneros

The 2024 Growing Season: The long 2024 summer offered ideal stretches of warm days and cool nights. In early September temperatures rose on cue, ushering in a harvest of bright, elegant fruit.

Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay

Brix at Harvest: 22.8° – 25.0°

Fermentation: Whole-cluster pressed and fermented with wild yeast in individual barrels (40% oak, 60% stainless steel); 0% malolactic fermentation

Cooperage: 9 months in 40% new French oak barrels (Allier, Vosges) and 60% in stainless steel barrels

Alcohol: 14.9%

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - James Suckling:
“This has a lovely core of fruit with aromas of nectarines, grilled lemons and flint. The midweight, textural palate shows balanced acidity, finishing with a slight phenolic grip. Moving out of the cooler 2023 bottling, this is far more generous and open. Drink or hold.” (Sep 2025)

94 Points - Wine Advocate:
“For fans of Chardonnay without malolactic fermentation, Shafer's 2024 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch remains a standard-bearer. Ripe pineapple, pear and honeysuckle mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is loaded with opulent mango fruit that's expansive and lush but brought back into focus on the crisp citrus-and-green-apple finish.” – Joe Czerwinski (May 2026)

94 Points - Vinous Media:
“The 2024 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is a very pretty, elegant wine. Lemon confit, white flowers, mint and light tropical inflections are some of the many notes that grace this weightless, super refined Chardonnay. All the elements are so well balanced. There is a feeling of understated lightness here that is so appealing.” – Antonio Galloni (Nov 2025)

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
“Based on multiple clones and aged in 30% new French oak with no malolactic fermentation, the 2024 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch was bottled in July and offers tons of tropical fruits, honeysuckle, sweet lemon, and tangerine notes. It's medium-bodied, pure, and nicely balanced, with the fresh, fruity style of the vintage. Drink 2025-2037.” (Dec 2025)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
“Bold and intense, mingling a laser beam of acidity with flavors of ripe, salted melon, mandarin orange, mango puree and apricot at the core. A whiff of fennel pollen, tarragon and dried lemongrass adds aromatic intrigue. Drink now. 5,000 cases made.” – MaryAnn Worobiec (Feb 2026)