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Shafer

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2016
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
98
Almost opaque in color, the wine is massive, powerful, dense and intense. The layers of incredibly ripe, black and fruits coat every facet of your palate with non-stop layers of intensity. Hedonistic, showy and attention-seeking, this should age and evolve for 2-3 decades with ease.

Almost opaque in color, the wine is massive, powerful, dense and intense. The layers of incredibly ripe, black and fruits coat every facet of your palate with non-stop layers of intensity. Hedonistic, showy and attention-seeking, this should age and evolve for 2-3 decades with ease.

10,369 Views   Tasted
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2015
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
97
Inky dark in color, the wine is massive, intensely concentrated and palate staining. There is so much weight, volume, and extract, your teeth and gums are instantly coated. Balanced between fat and opulent in texture, the flamboyant nature of the wine lets you peek inside. But based on older vintages of HSS, you should let it rest for 10 -15 years or more to get the most out of the layers of black and blue fruit, smoke, vanilla, licorice and chocolate.

Inky dark in color, the wine is massive, intensely concentrated and palate staining. There is so much weight, volume, and extract, your teeth and gums are instantly coated. Balanced between fat and opulent in texture, the flamboyant nature of the wine lets you peek inside. But based on older vintages of HSS, you should let it rest for 10 -15 years or more to get the most out of the layers of black and blue fruit, smoke, vanilla, licorice and chocolate.

6,499 Views   Tasted
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2013
Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch  (Carneros)
92
Fresh, ripe, sweet, citrus fruits with a tropical accent and vanilla overtones, forward in style, medium bodied, easy to drink today.

Fresh, ripe, sweet, citrus fruits with a tropical accent and vanilla overtones, forward in style, medium bodied, easy to drink today.

2,875 Views   Tasted
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2013
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
97
Massive, dense, powerful, concentrated, full-bodied and loaded with as much, inky, black and blue fruits as possible, the wine stains your teeth and palate with black and blue fruit, licorice, jam, chocolate, vanilla and smoke. If you like an ocean of fruit in its exuberant youth, you can drink this young. Else give it at least another decade or more to calm down.

Massive, dense, powerful, concentrated, full-bodied and loaded with as much, inky, black and blue fruits as possible, the wine stains your teeth and palate with black and blue fruit, licorice, jam, chocolate, vanilla and smoke. If you like an ocean of fruit in its exuberant youth, you can drink this young. Else give it at least another decade or more to calm down.

6,677 Views   Tasted
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2012
Shafer Merlot  (Napa Valley)
90
Medium bodied, with loads of ripe, sweet, jammy berries, forward, soft and easy to drink.

Medium bodied, with loads of ripe, sweet, jammy berries, forward, soft and easy to drink.

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2012
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
97
Inky in color, the wine pops with licorice, black cherry liqueur, black and blue fruit, smoke and vanilla aromatics. Fat, rich and fleshy, the wine is packed to the gills with incredibly ripe, dark berries, vanilla and chocolate. Shafer Hillside Select is one of the few, higher ABV wines to improve with age. Give it at least 7 years and your experience should rock.

Inky in color, the wine pops with licorice, black cherry liqueur, black and blue fruit, smoke and vanilla aromatics. Fat, rich and fleshy, the wine is packed to the gills with incredibly ripe, dark berries, vanilla and chocolate. Shafer Hillside Select is one of the few, higher ABV wines to improve with age. Give it at least 7 years and your experience should rock.

8,149 Views   Tasted
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2011
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five  (Stags Leap District)
90
Forward, with jammy red fruits, smoke and cherries, this medium bodied wine is already drinking well.

Forward, with jammy red fruits, smoke and cherries, this medium bodied wine is already drinking well.

3,898 Views   Tasted
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2010
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
96
Massive, powerful, concentrated and loaded to the top with layers of ripe, dark berries, jam, smoke, espresso, vanilla and licorice. Still primary, it is not ready for prime time drinking yet, as everything still needs to come together.

Massive, powerful, concentrated and loaded to the top with layers of ripe, dark berries, jam, smoke, espresso, vanilla and licorice. Still primary, it is not ready for prime time drinking yet, as everything still needs to come together.

5,008 Views   Tasted
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Big, bold, powerful, packed, full bodied and dense, this wine is stuffed with licorice, jammy blackberries, smoke and vanilla. This is not for timid wine tasters with all its layers of ripe and over ripe fruits. The finish really packs a punch.

Big, bold, powerful, packed, full bodied and dense, this wine is stuffed with licorice, jammy blackberries, smoke and vanilla. This is not for timid wine tasters with all its layers of ripe and over ripe fruits. The finish really packs a punch.

12,861 Views   Tasted
2010
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five  (Stags Leap District)
93
Deep ruby in color, with notes of licorice, coffee bean, jammy dark berries and chocolate. The fruit is sweet, ripe, round and fresh, forward in style with a long taste of black raspberries in the finish.

Deep ruby in color, with notes of licorice, coffee bean, jammy dark berries and chocolate. The fruit is sweet, ripe, round and fresh, forward in style with a long taste of black raspberries in the finish.

4,559 Views   Tasted
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2009
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
96
Almost too much of a good thing. The massive wall of fruit coats your palate, teeth and gums with perfectly ripe, dark black and blue fruits. The tannins are soft. The wine is concentrated, intense long and powerful.

Almost too much of a good thing. The massive wall of fruit coats your palate, teeth and gums with perfectly ripe, dark black and blue fruits. The tannins are soft. The wine is concentrated, intense long and powerful.

4,965 Views   Tasted
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Dark in color, with an intense concentration of flavor that serves up layers of fat, juicy, ripe, blackberries, plum, jam, coffee bean, dark bitter chocolate, smoke and licorice. Mouthfilling, powerful and long, each swirl, sniff and sip delivers the goods!

Dark in color, with an intense concentration of flavor that serves up layers of fat, juicy, ripe, blackberries, plum, jam, coffee bean, dark bitter chocolate, smoke and licorice. Mouthfilling, powerful and long, each swirl, sniff and sip delivers the goods!

7,346 Views   Tasted
2009
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five  (Stags Leap District)
91
Filled with spicy, black cherries and licorice, this forward style of Cabernet Sauvignon is soft, sweet, round and already tasty.

Filled with spicy, black cherries and licorice, this forward style of Cabernet Sauvignon is soft, sweet, round and already tasty.

5,682 Views   Tasted
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2008
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
96
Inky in color, with an intense aroma packed with chocoalte, licorice, jammy plums, spice and earthy scents. Full bodied, powerful and concentrated, the wine ends with a palate filling, opulent, ripe, fat finish.

Inky in color, with an intense aroma packed with chocoalte, licorice, jammy plums, spice and earthy scents. Full bodied, powerful and concentrated, the wine ends with a palate filling, opulent, ripe, fat finish.

7,268 Views   Tasted
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2007
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five  (Stags Leap District)
92
Popped and poured for a summer night BBQ, sweet aromas of ripe boysenberry, licorice, vanilla, coffee bean, smoke and jam made their presence known. Round, juicy, soft and filled with ripe berries, the fat, plush, slightly oaky, sweet finish makes you want another taste. I would not hesitate to pop a cork on this today.

Popped and poured for a summer night BBQ, sweet aromas of ripe boysenberry, licorice, vanilla, coffee bean, smoke and jam made their presence known. Round, juicy, soft and filled with ripe berries, the fat, plush, slightly oaky, sweet finish makes you want another taste. I would not hesitate to pop a cork on this today.

4,244 Views   Tasted
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2007
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
97
Powerful, intense, concentrated, lush, mouth-coating, and palate-staining, the wine is full, deep, and dark, with a boatload of black fruits, licorice, vanilla bean, smoke, chocolate, and blackberry liqueur. High in ABV, you feel the heat, but there is so much fruit, you might forget to notice all the heat. Drink from 2022-2040.

Powerful, intense, concentrated, lush, mouth-coating, and palate-staining, the wine is full, deep, and dark, with a boatload of black fruits, licorice, vanilla bean, smoke, chocolate, and blackberry liqueur. High in ABV, you feel the heat, but there is so much fruit, you might forget to notice all the heat. Drink from 2022-2040.

3,665 Views   Tasted
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Deep dark, almost inky, black/purple in color, gobs of licorice, blackberry, blue fruit, smoke, coffee, chocolate and vanilla fill your glass. Powerful, dense and packed with layers of perfectly ripe, thick, juicy, black and blue fruit, this intense wine fills your mouth and coats your palate. Opulent in character, this is as good as any of the California Cult wines and sells for a lot less money. While it's expensive, (most California Cabernets are) if you're seeking a top experience with the best California has to offer, this is the wine to buy.

Deep dark, almost inky, black/purple in color, gobs of licorice, blackberry, blue fruit, smoke, coffee, chocolate and vanilla fill your glass. Powerful, dense and packed with layers of perfectly ripe, thick, juicy, black and blue fruit, this intense wine fills your mouth and coats your palate. Opulent in character, this is as good as any of the California Cult wines and sells for a lot less money. While it's expensive, (most California Cabernets are) if you're seeking a top experience with the best California has to offer, this is the wine to buy.

12,791 Views   Tasted
2005
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
95
This is a massive wall of ripe dark deep fruits, smoke, oak, licorice, chocolate and vanilla that starts off strong and keeps on going. This is definitively a full-throttle, palate-staining wine. There is a touch of heat in the finish.

This is a massive wall of ripe dark deep fruits, smoke, oak, licorice, chocolate and vanilla that starts off strong and keeps on going. This is definitively a full-throttle, palate-staining wine. There is a touch of heat in the finish.

4,189 Views   Tasted
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The licorice, smoke, espresso, herbs, roasted fruits and vanilla come through loud and clear with little effort. This is all about the power, concentration and depth which completely fills your palate. This is no shy wine, but more time will allow everything to come together,

The licorice, smoke, espresso, herbs, roasted fruits and vanilla come through loud and clear with little effort. This is all about the power, concentration and depth which completely fills your palate. This is no shy wine, but more time will allow everything to come together,

5,046 Views   Tasted
Deep in color, this wine packs a punch with its serious levels of ripe, sweet, fleshy, rich fruit. Licorice, coffee bean, boysenberry, blackberry and jammy scents pop once the cork is out of the bottle. Still young, this intense wine like all vintages of Hillside Select will age for years.

Deep in color, this wine packs a punch with its serious levels of ripe, sweet, fleshy, rich fruit. Licorice, coffee bean, boysenberry, blackberry and jammy scents pop once the cork is out of the bottle. Still young, this intense wine like all vintages of Hillside Select will age for years.

6,246 Views   Tasted
2003
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
95
Big, powerful and dense, with layers of ripe, dark berries, licorice, chocolate, smoke and vanilla tinged fruit. Lusciously textured, rich and ripe, this will continue delivering the goods for at least a decade and probably longer.

Big, powerful and dense, with layers of ripe, dark berries, licorice, chocolate, smoke and vanilla tinged fruit. Lusciously textured, rich and ripe, this will continue delivering the goods for at least a decade and probably longer.

4,711 Views   Tasted
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2002
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
97
It's been ages since I last tasted this gem. It is hard to believe, this is almost 18 years old. The color remains dark. The fruit, which has softened over the years, continues to hold on to its youth. The oak is better integrated. But this is still about the power and layers of decadent berries, so I'd wait another few years before popping another cork.

It's been ages since I last tasted this gem. It is hard to believe, this is almost 18 years old. The color remains dark. The fruit, which has softened over the years, continues to hold on to its youth. The oak is better integrated. But this is still about the power and layers of decadent berries, so I'd wait another few years before popping another cork.

4,366 Views   Tasted
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Clearly this is the best non cult, cult wine from California. Still deep in color, licorice, jammy blackberry, vanilla, cassis, earth, cocoa and spice scents are made more complex with the massive, intense wall of delicious, juicy, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon that covers your palate. Shafer Hillside Select is one of the few California Cabernet Sauvignon’s that improve and evolve with age. At a fraction of what the big boys costs, if you’re seeking one fo the best wines from the Golden State, look no further.

Clearly this is the best non cult, cult wine from California. Still deep in color, licorice, jammy blackberry, vanilla, cassis, earth, cocoa and spice scents are made more complex with the massive, intense wall of delicious, juicy, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon that covers your palate. Shafer Hillside Select is one of the few California Cabernet Sauvignon’s that improve and evolve with age. At a fraction of what the big boys costs, if you’re seeking one fo the best wines from the Golden State, look no further.

10,625 Views   Tasted
Shafer Hillside Select often makes one of the top wine California Cabernets. In 1997, it's a reference point wine. But I did not get that from the 2002. It's not so much quality as it is a stylistic preference. 2002 Hillside Select is packed and stacked with jammy blue and black fruit, brown sugar, tobacco and dark cherry notes. The palate is coated with dense layers of jammy, ripe and over ripe berries. This is a concentrated, powerful wine. The finish shows some heat and thick jammy textures. I have friends that love this wine. While I see the quality, the over the top styling's of this wine make it hard to like. Perhaps it's just too much of a good thing.

Shafer Hillside Select often makes one of the top wine California Cabernets. In 1997, it's a reference point wine. But I did not get that from the 2002. It's not so much quality as it is a stylistic preference. 2002 Hillside Select is packed and stacked with jammy blue and black fruit, brown sugar, tobacco and dark cherry notes. The palate is coated with dense layers of jammy, ripe and over ripe berries. This is a concentrated, powerful wine. The finish shows some heat and thick jammy textures. I have friends that love this wine. While I see the quality, the over the top styling's of this wine make it hard to like. Perhaps it's just too much of a good thing.

11,746 Views   Tasted
2001
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
98
Perhaps the most elegant, sledge hammer I have ever encountered. There is all the power, purity, tannin and length you could ask for. The layers of black, blue and red fruits just kept on coming, again and again. Seamless, and without any hard edges, the tannins were soft and polished. This is a mouth-coating wine indeed. In magnum, this tasted like it was at least 10 years younger. This is no shy, wallflower of a wine. There is an intensity of flavor that just does not want to quit. Could this be a 50 year wine in the making?

Perhaps the most elegant, sledge hammer I have ever encountered. There is all the power, purity, tannin and length you could ask for. The layers of black, blue and red fruits just kept on coming, again and again. Seamless, and without any hard edges, the tannins were soft and polished. This is a mouth-coating wine indeed. In magnum, this tasted like it was at least 10 years younger. This is no shy, wallflower of a wine. There is an intensity of flavor that just does not want to quit. Could this be a 50 year wine in the making?

8,194 Views   Tasted
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Fabulous expression of ripe, very ripe and extremely ripe fruits. Concentrated, intense, lush and rich, yet everything is in balance. Still young, much of its early jammy qualities and over oak influence has faded away, leaving with you loads of sweet, plush fruits. This is no shy sister, the wine is big, powerful and intense, yet refined in its own way.

Fabulous expression of ripe, very ripe and extremely ripe fruits. Concentrated, intense, lush and rich, yet everything is in balance. Still young, much of its early jammy qualities and over oak influence has faded away, leaving with you loads of sweet, plush fruits. This is no shy sister, the wine is big, powerful and intense, yet refined in its own way.

4,866 Views   Tasted
The best California Cabernet Sauvignon wines have earned a well deserved reputation for being expensive. Not that Shafer Hillside Select is inexpensive, but it sells for half the price of other Cult wines and on a quality basis, in blind tasting's, it proves time and time again, it's of equal quality with any of the far more pricey wines. Jammy blackberry, smoke, pepper, coffee, blueberry, cassis, truffle, spice and caramel create the complex aromatics. Big, rich and concentrated with waves of juicy, sweet, ripe fruit, the wine ends with a lush, mouth filling finish. The only minor fault is the slight touch of heat in the long finish. Drink now, or over the next 10-15 years.

The best California Cabernet Sauvignon wines have earned a well deserved reputation for being expensive. Not that Shafer Hillside Select is inexpensive, but it sells for half the price of other Cult wines and on a quality basis, in blind tasting's, it proves time and time again, it's of equal quality with any of the far more pricey wines. Jammy blackberry, smoke, pepper, coffee, blueberry, cassis, truffle, spice and caramel create the complex aromatics. Big, rich and concentrated with waves of juicy, sweet, ripe fruit, the wine ends with a lush, mouth filling finish. The only minor fault is the slight touch of heat in the long finish. Drink now, or over the next 10-15 years.

7,265 Views   Tasted
This wine had it all. Endless layers of sweet, ripe, black fruit and cassis fruit coat your palate. The perfume was intoxicating. The soft textures and oceans of ripe fruit made for a sublime finish.

This wine had it all. Endless layers of sweet, ripe, black fruit and cassis fruit coat your palate. The perfume was intoxicating. The soft textures and oceans of ripe fruit made for a sublime finish.

3,557 Views   Tasted
1999
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
96
If fighters are judged on a pound for pound basis, perhaps wines should be looked at on a point for dollar basis. If we use that scale for high end, California Cabernet Sauvignon, it's hard to see any other wine topping Shafer Hillside Select. This had everything I seek in Cab based wines; complex aromas with fresh blackberries, licorice, earth and a touch of oak, rich, lush textures and a long, fresh, ripe, balanced finish that made me want to taste it again and again. Served with a rare steak, I was loving it!

If fighters are judged on a pound for pound basis, perhaps wines should be looked at on a point for dollar basis. If we use that scale for high end, California Cabernet Sauvignon, it's hard to see any other wine topping Shafer Hillside Select. This had everything I seek in Cab based wines; complex aromas with fresh blackberries, licorice, earth and a touch of oak, rich, lush textures and a long, fresh, ripe, balanced finish that made me want to taste it again and again. Served with a rare steak, I was loving it!

5,232 Views   Tasted
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Now we're talking! With a beautiful perfume packed with smoke, ripe blackberry, cherry, licorice and an array of spices, the wine is rich, deep, powerful and balanced. Polished tannins and layers of ripe fruits make this a treat to taste. It' s drinking great today. I own a few bottles and do not see any hurry to drink this wine.

Now we're talking! With a beautiful perfume packed with smoke, ripe blackberry, cherry, licorice and an array of spices, the wine is rich, deep, powerful and balanced. Polished tannins and layers of ripe fruits make this a treat to taste. It' s drinking great today. I own a few bottles and do not see any hurry to drink this wine.

5,331 Views   Tasted
Still young, this deeply colored, corpulent mouthful of dense, juicy, ripe fruit offers everything a great California wine needs. Massive amounts of intense, black fruit are found in every sip. The long, clean, pure finish is a delight to taste. Everything in this wine is in perfect balance.

Still young, this deeply colored, corpulent mouthful of dense, juicy, ripe fruit offers everything a great California wine needs. Massive amounts of intense, black fruit are found in every sip. The long, clean, pure finish is a delight to taste. Everything in this wine is in perfect balance.

3,452 Views   Tasted
1998
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
92
Medium bodied, elegant in style, with good freshness, but lacking the level of depth, concentration and ripeness found in the best vintages. Still, this has nice character and is quite food friendly, mature and easy to drink today.

Medium bodied, elegant in style, with good freshness, but lacking the level of depth, concentration and ripeness found in the best vintages. Still, this has nice character and is quite food friendly, mature and easy to drink today.

5,341 Views   Tasted
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1997
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
98
This has really settled down and morphed into a dynamic, complex and complete tasting experience. The wine is intense and concentrated, balanced and rich, with nuances on the palate that hold through from start to finish. At 20 years of age, this is probably fully mature, but should provide great drinking for at least another decade or longer.

This has really settled down and morphed into a dynamic, complex and complete tasting experience. The wine is intense and concentrated, balanced and rich, with nuances on the palate that hold through from start to finish. At 20 years of age, this is probably fully mature, but should provide great drinking for at least another decade or longer.

6,108 Views   Tasted
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Jammy blackberries, blue fruit, smoky cherries and coffee bean notes create the aromatics. The wine is concentrated, fleshy, ripe and packed with plush sweet fruits. This still seems youthful at close 19 years of age.

Jammy blackberries, blue fruit, smoky cherries and coffee bean notes create the aromatics. The wine is concentrated, fleshy, ripe and packed with plush sweet fruits. This still seems youthful at close 19 years of age.

3,614 Views   Tasted
From 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this could be the best non cult Cabernet made in America. With stunning levels of concentrated, sweet, ripe, jammy, polished fruit, velvet textures, chocolate, blueberry, smoke, vanilla, boysenberry, blackberry jam, truffle and cherry, this intense wine coats your mouth in flavor and intensity. The finish seems endless. What a treat! This is probably my favorite vintage of this stunning wine yet produced.

From 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this could be the best non cult Cabernet made in America. With stunning levels of concentrated, sweet, ripe, jammy, polished fruit, velvet textures, chocolate, blueberry, smoke, vanilla, boysenberry, blackberry jam, truffle and cherry, this intense wine coats your mouth in flavor and intensity. The finish seems endless. What a treat! This is probably my favorite vintage of this stunning wine yet produced.

8,414 Views   Tasted
Intense aromatics, purity, depth of concentration and flavor coupled with perfect balance, ripeness, opulence and a long finsh that remained for over a minute makes this wine a stunning experience to taste.

Intense aromatics, purity, depth of concentration and flavor coupled with perfect balance, ripeness, opulence and a long finsh that remained for over a minute makes this wine a stunning experience to taste.

4,579 Views   Tasted
1996
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
94
Incense, smoke, licorice blackberry and plum aromas are all over the place. The wine is soft, polished and almost feels as if it’s holding something in reserve. But I am not sure further aging is at the end of the day, going to reveal anything new. This is probably fully mature.

Incense, smoke, licorice blackberry and plum aromas are all over the place. The wine is soft, polished and almost feels as if it’s holding something in reserve. But I am not sure further aging is at the end of the day, going to reveal anything new. This is probably fully mature.

7,508 Views   Tasted
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Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this beautiful wine is filled with truffle, smoke, coffee, blackberry jam, black cherry, olives and cassis. Full boded and packed with juicy, ripe, sweet, dark berries, the wine ends with a long, powerful, intense sensation of blackberries and dark chocolate covered plums. This is drinking perfectly today. While it might not evolve much, there is no hurry to drink it.

Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this beautiful wine is filled with truffle, smoke, coffee, blackberry jam, black cherry, olives and cassis. Full boded and packed with juicy, ripe, sweet, dark berries, the wine ends with a long, powerful, intense sensation of blackberries and dark chocolate covered plums. This is drinking perfectly today. While it might not evolve much, there is no hurry to drink it.

5,294 Views   Tasted
1995
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
96
Full bodied, rich, plush, fat and juicy, the wine is lush, round textured, concentrated, delicious and packed with fruit, plus it's ready to go!

Full bodied, rich, plush, fat and juicy, the wine is lush, round textured, concentrated, delicious and packed with fruit, plus it's ready to go!

3,683 Views   Tasted
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Shafer Hillside Select deserves serious consideration as a candidate for the most consistent producer of high end, California Cabernet Sauvignon over the past two decades. The 1995 is right up there with its rich, licorice, black and blue fruit, chocolate personality, dusty tannins and rich black cherry and filled finish. While lacking the levels of concentration found in vintages like 1994, 1997, 2001 or 2002, this is still an outstanding vintage for Hillside Select.

Shafer Hillside Select deserves serious consideration as a candidate for the most consistent producer of high end, California Cabernet Sauvignon over the past two decades. The 1995 is right up there with its rich, licorice, black and blue fruit, chocolate personality, dusty tannins and rich black cherry and filled finish. While lacking the levels of concentration found in vintages like 1994, 1997, 2001 or 2002, this is still an outstanding vintage for Hillside Select.

6,274 Views   Tasted
1994
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select  (Stags Leap District)
97
Licorice, oak and chocolate coated black and blue fruit are found in spades in this concentrated, deep, long, intense wine. The finish goes on and on and on like a Stephen Bishop song. This is such a great style of wine, and while not cheap, for a Napa wine at this level of quality, it's worth the cost of the ticket.

Licorice, oak and chocolate coated black and blue fruit are found in spades in this concentrated, deep, long, intense wine. The finish goes on and on and on like a Stephen Bishop song. This is such a great style of wine, and while not cheap, for a Napa wine at this level of quality, it's worth the cost of the ticket.

4,894 Views   Tasted
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Endless waves of complex fruit pour over your palate and please your senses. Still young, this has a great future

Endless waves of complex fruit pour over your palate and please your senses. Still young, this has a great future

2,995 Views   Tasted
1978
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon  (Napa Valley)
97
Minerality, tobacco leaf, ash, blackberry, plum, smoke, caramel, earth, spice box and coffee notes created a complex bouquet. Rich, intense, concentrated and packed with layers of sweet, ripe, juicy fruit, this delicious wine ended with a finish of close to 50 seconds! I wish I owned a bottle of the majestic elixir. Rumor has it, part of the reason for the wines success was in picking extremely ripe fruit, by accident. The fruit was harvested later than the Shafer's wanted, because they had trouble finding enough pickers for their debut wine.

Minerality, tobacco leaf, ash, blackberry, plum, smoke, caramel, earth, spice box and coffee notes created a complex bouquet. Rich, intense, concentrated and packed with layers of sweet, ripe, juicy fruit, this delicious wine ended with a finish of close to 50 seconds! I wish I owned a bottle of the majestic elixir. Rumor has it, part of the reason for the wines success was in picking extremely ripe fruit, by accident. The fruit was harvested later than the Shafer's wanted, because they had trouble finding enough pickers for their debut wine.

4,910 Views   Tasted
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