The 1997 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch is a big wine, with full body, a rich, smoky, buttery, tropical fruit-scented and flavored personality, and adequate underlying acidity. It spends 15 months in contact with its lees after being aged in oak barrels, of which 50% is new. A small amount of American oak is utilized, but that is not discernible in the wine's aromas. To date, this offering has been at its finest within 1-3 years of the vintage, although it gives evidence of lasting longer. Tel. (707) 944-2877; fax (707) 944-9454

The 1997 Chardonnay harvest in California was both big and good, as this wine demonstrates. It’s packed with superb fruit that leaps from the glass, yet has good structure and acidity to keep it honest. Just a super bottle of wine.——L.W.(6/1/1999)—— 93