2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch

This was my first visit to Shafer following its acquisition by the Korean firm Shinsegae Property. The new owners certainly have not wasted time, as Shafer has been on a buying spree of late, picking up choice vineyards across the valley. I don’t see much of a change when it comes to the wines. Elias Fernandez, a 40-year veteran at Shafer, is still very much in charge, as he has been for the last several decades. There are some changes to the wines, though. The TD-9, which was formerly a Merlot-based wine is now a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. It has essentially become Shafer’s entry-level Cabernet Sauvignon, while the One Point Five is going to transition to a higher-end offering. I don’t see any changes with the Hillside Select. It remains one of the most iconic Napa Valley Cabernets.