1991 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select |
| Vintage | 1991 |  | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Shafer (web) | ||
| Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon | ||
| Designation | Hillside Select | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | USA | ||
| Region | California | ||
| SubRegion | Napa Valley | ||
| Appellation | Stags Leap District | ||
| UPC Code(s) | 013528400023 |
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2002 and 2022 (based on 18 user opinions) | |
| Wine Market Journal quarterly auction price: See Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select on the Wine Market Journal. |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average and median of 93 pts. in 68 notes) | |
| Tasted by fclarity on 10/16/2021 & rated 93 points: Tasted blind, this wine had a deep purple center with a touch of red at the rims. It looked like a 5-10 year old wine! The medium intensity nose generated blackberry, wax, mineral, menthol, and some leesy notes. In the mouth, this wine was ripe and rich and yet light on its feet. It displayed rounded tannin, firm acidity, and excellent length. It was ripe enough that it had a "jammy" texture but it did not come off as heavy. This bottle still seemed quite young and would have showed exciting potential. However, the leesy note in the nose was troubling as this suggested a wine-making flaw that will probably not dissipate. Thus, I don't see upside here based on just this one bottle. (1774 views) | |
| Tasted by Bordeaux_Jon on 1/20/2020 & rated 91 points: Bottle and cork seemed in quite good condition. However, this wine seemed tired and lacking fruit. Dried red fruit, cigar, pepper and beans. I was not a fan of the vegetal element and pyrazines as Shafer is usually a fruit and oak driven cab. I had a much better bottle about 8 years ago. This wine is past peak and I advise drinking up. It came 8 of 12 in a lineup of comparable Napa Cabernet based wines. (2597 views) | |
| Tasted by mattiasjansson on 10/22/2019 & rated 96 points: Shafer Hillside Select in Boston - Take II (Boston): Soft tannins and medium fruit. Mature. Beautifully balanced with excellent finish. Probably at peak now. (2851 views) | |
| Tasted by Tony Ling on 5/13/2019 & rated 92 points: Opened 2-3 hours prior to serving into Galateo Burgundy glass (“No” day): Medium ruby with very slightly bricking rims. Pronounced green bell peppery notes with darker red and black fruits. Delicate white spices. Nicely acidic and mineral. A little woody that seems a little “sweet” on the finish. 92 points. (2981 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 2/9/2019 flawed bottle: Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind Cabernet (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Corked. (3774 views) | |
| Tasted by fclarity on 2/3/2019 & rated 93 points: Tasted blind, this wine had a deep red/purple center with red rims. The medium+ intensity nose put forth blackberries, cherries, soil, and anise. I do not know how long this wine was open but it did not seem to change much during the tasting. It was rich and ripe with mild taninns, solid acidity, and good length. While not particularly complex, this was a well made wine. The color argues that more complexity might be revealed with additional age. However, based on just this one data point, I would not be inclined to bet on it. (2120 views) | |
| Tasted by Ruby99 on 11/24/2018 & rated 93 points: Slightly vegetal nose, forest floor and tobacco A nice blast of black raspberry with a gamey note at the end. A little disappointing. Better when young (1374 views) | |
| Tasted by floridawinedrkr on 9/23/2018 & rated 95 points: Wow. Drank this at Capital Grille Naples. What a great wine. very soft and smooth. Loads of blueberries and black berries with out being sweet in any way. Spectacular! (1654 views) | |
| Tasted by jsmorris707 on 8/25/2018 & rated 98 points: Similar to prior notes after an hour decant, outstanding & ready to drink. Classic, old style CA cab! (1406 views) | |
| Tasted by jsmorris707 on 5/27/2018 & rated 98 points: Similar to prior note after decanting for an hour then back in the bottle to SO for a few more; delicious, drink or hold (1740 views) | |
| Tasted by jsmorris707 on 10/16/2017 & rated 98 points: From memory; 1/2 hr decant; still dark ruby with no brick, dark cherry with some leather & a touch of tobacco, soft/mod. tannins, long finish; outstanding & one of the wines of the night of a very upscale tasting; drink or hold, loved it!! (2278 views) | |
| Tasted by englishman's claret on 3/4/2017 & rated 93 points: An interesting wine; cassis, gravel, a lick of mint, oak. Just a touch vegetal. Certainly the classic Californian phenotype pre-1998 or so. However, not quite the profundity you might expect from Hillside Select from a good vintage. A bit of a let-down; I'm not sure if there are better bottles out there or if this is just sliding down the slope. This particular bottle would have been better 5 years ago. (3385 views) | |
| Tasted by RockinCabs on 3/3/2017 & rated 94 points: Nose: plum, sweet black cherry, ginger snap, baking spice and fig. Also shows some stewed or fall leaves and earth notes at times. Plalate: Dense and ripe but well balanced with blackberry, cherry, toasted pecan, ginger and molasses notes. Fudge at times. The spice/sweet is well balanced with acidity and a smooth palate feel. Finish: good long finish that grows quite green with pepper and a weedy note that detracts from the ripe berry fruit. This balanced out in the decanter over 5 hours and showed best late in the night 94+/-, i recommend drinking in the next 2-4 years. Holding well. (2905 views) | |
| Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 1/22/2017 & rated 94 points: Shafer Hillside (12 & 91), Guigal La Turque, Bedrock, Fonseca ++ (Our Home): Chris purchased this on release on cellared it over the years in various places. The bottle was opened a hour or so ahead of time and allowed to breathe. The cork did break on opening and came out in two pieces. Purple in color. The nose is stinky. It does blow off mostly after an hour or so. Barnyard followed by cassis, dried fruits, plumes, spice and dust. On the palate, this gets better all night. It starts of old and tired and while perhaps past prime, not that much. Nice complex layers of earth, fruit with slight wispy tannins. Nice finish. Very pretty more elegant wine and a real treat. (3313 views) | |
| Tasted by mdefreitas on 12/20/2016 & rated 94 points: 1991 California Cabernet Retrospective @ The Milling Room (New York City): The wine of the night. Loads of rich, lush, youthful, plummy fruit. A hint of smoke and vanilla. The tannins were just about right - evident, but fine grained and smooth. (2898 views) | |
| Tasted by RyanJames on 9/12/2015 & rated 93 points: On the downhill, but undeniable greatness. super-second growth meets CA. (3501 views) | |
| Tasted by philweird on 5/22/2015 & rated 92 points: I had been warned that there was not much fruit left in this vintage, an opportunity emerged last night to share with it with a friend and was pleaseantly surprised. The wine was accessible upon opening and evolved very slowly over the next hour and a half that it was consumed. I found the fruit well integrated into a great nose and wonder if a long decant would have hurt the experience. This is the second of older California's that I have tasted in recent months and have to say, that they seem to be holding up really well over time. (2866 views) | |
| Tasted by floridawinedrkr on 3/24/2015 & rated 92 points: Picked up 3 more bottles after the last one was perhaps one of the best wines I have had and so far 2 of the 3 have not lived up to the first one. These 2 had much softer corks that broke apart as we tried to remove them as the other one we drank earlier in the month had an extremely solid cork. These 2 didn't quite have the explosive Blueberry Pie A la mode nose as the other one I reviewed. These 2 had a much older nose, a little dusk, funk, still some blueberry, but much more like an old bordeaux . This had much less power behind it and much thinner. It was still good it just wasn't spectacular or very memorable. We did decant and there was a lot of sediment. We were disappointed. (3347 views) | |
| Tasted by GTFreek on 3/21/2015: Gorgeous, Bordeaux style, yet fading. Probably had more power a few years ago. Still very, very good, structure excellent with acidity and balance. (2868 views) | |
| Tasted by ttriant on 3/14/2015 & rated 94 points: Overall excellent, sweet tannins. Drink now to 2020. (2948 views) | |
| Tasted by floridawinedrkr on 3/7/2015 & rated 98 points: This was stored perfect and the cork was as firm as any 2010 wine you would open. I was shocked. Nose literally smelled like Blueberry pie. Smooth and still powerful. Huge flavor of blueberry pie, with some spices, a hint of cedar, and a touch of coffee. It did have a touch of musty funk that blew off within a couple minutes. This was popped and poured and was the WOTN!!! I wish I had more (2206 views) | |
| Tasted by 1961Vintage on 12/30/2014 & rated 95 points: Killer cab. Incredible in every way. Enjoy, but would think about popping a few with the new year. (1707 views) | |
| Tasted by jsebiri on 12/20/2014: crumbled cork , nice cab , missing at least one dimension , nice , but probably a few years late (1591 views) | |
| Tasted by Naplesgolfer on 12/19/2014 & rated 94 points: Drank out of 6L. Decanted for 3 hrs. This is at it's peak right now. Not your typical Hillside select. A little lighter and very balanced. Fruit and the acid and tannin very resolved. Older Bordeaux-esque. (1598 views) | |
| Tasted by JoeDwine on 11/7/2014 & rated 94 points: Pop and Pour....Cork was brutally dry and crumbly..but already beautiful mature cab truffle, herbs, blackberry, cigar Box, wintergreen. Hour 2- Graphite, Mint a little tightening Hour 3- Cherries hour 4-a little cream, just beautiful depth... cigar box, currants and dried pommegrante, eucalyptus... no real greeness Dark Choclate undertones Crimson to black no bricking...Very Bordeuex like in depth drinking Beautifully tannins resolved but proabably will Plateau at this level for the next 8-10 years. (447 views) | |
| Tasted by Marc on 8/10/2014 & rated 91 points: Dinner in Normandale (Normandale, Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand): Clear aromas of sauteed green bell peppers combine with blackcurrants and classy cedar and oak character. A touch of dusty complexity and also a hint of oxidation that suggests the wine is slightly past its peak. The palate has outstanding definition and a long and rich finish, with slightly elevated acids. In no way is the wine drying out. Compared to the two great 1990 bordeaux wines that preceded it, this felt stylistically in the middle of the two wines, sharing a hint of the extravagant opulence of the Montrose and also some of the classic poise of the La Mission Haut Brion. Certainly the most developed of the trio. The dualism of both ripe and unripe fruit quality marks this as a wine that may not have achieved complete physiological ripeness in the vineyard. I liked this wine very much but it was well and truly outclassed by the two superstars drunk in the same flight. (2801 views) | |
| Tasted by William Kelley on 5/8/2014: The 1991 Hillside Select is surprisingly reminiscent of a rustic 1982 Bordeaux, although a certain inner sweetness identifies it as Californian on the palate. Aromas of cedar, herbs and briary fruits emerge from the glass, and the wine seems to grow with air, gaining richness and completeness on the palate to put in a very creditable showing. Doug Shafer recollects that this wine was opaque and viscous in its youth, but it has evolved into quite a civilized beast, albeit with a slightly more rustic character than one finds in subsequent vintages. (3875 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 5/3/2014: Wine with Steak and Morels (Chez Kailin - Northbrook IL): Tasted double blind. Lots of black fruit aromas and flavors at a feet attractive point in its evolutionary development. Well supported with good spice and structure. Very pleasurable today, but this has the stuffing to continue to age well. (3207 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 8/26/2013: Birthday Celebration (Del Frisco - Chicago IL): Brief note. Black currant aromas, same flavors with some cherry, overall very good balance. Well textured, good length and finesse. (4517 views) | |
| Tasted by Wine_lvr on 7/1/2013 & rated 94 points: Shafer Hillside Select Vertical Tasting (Switzerland): Well the 1991 is a whole different caliber than the 1990. Garnet red. Cherries and dark berries in the nose. The wine has a wonderful sweetness is very smooth and elegant. Lots of dark fruit and chocolate. Just wonderful. Drink - 2020. (4702 views) | |
| Tasted by closdupapes on 1/18/2013 & rated 95 points: Just a beautiful wine- grace and elegance in the bottle. It no is the behemoth that is was 10 years ago. It has mellowed and the fruit has really come into its own. The finish lasted for minutes. Sad it was my last '91. (3746 views) | |
| Tasted by Didman on 9/14/2012 & rated 90 points: This seemed quite closed at first, but as the evening wore on became quite delicious with aged cabernet aromas becoming more evident. (4068 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 9/4/2012 & rated 92 points: Dinner with Friends (Inovasi - Lake Bluff IL): Black fruit and subtle spice aromas, then completely identical on palate. Very good balance. Perhaps a little less interesting overall vs. another bottle from earlier this year with showed a little more cigarbox aromas and acidic edge. (4914 views) | |
| Tasted by fdub on 8/26/2012 & rated 91 points: Tasted at the Vintner's Club in SF. Tasted along with the 91' Dalla Valle. This tasted and smelled like lightly stewed red fruit. Fully resolved tannins but slightly out of my flavor realm. This came so late in the evening that I couldn't fully appreciate. (3234 views) | |
| Tasted by gutt22 on 6/7/2012: Medium red color, with light bricking at the edge of the glass. Beautiful nose of mature Cabernet fruit, leafy earth, cigar box, and spice. In the mouth, elegant and impeccably balanced, with tasty cool black fruit and a dried fruit note, along with prominent secondary notes from the earthy, spice, and cigar notes. Smooth mouthfeel throughout, with a long, pretty finish. This is a complete, beautiful example of mature Cabernet. A (3216 views) | |
| Tasted by Burgundy Al on 4/8/2012 & rated 93 points: Cassis and black currant aromas with tobacco, cigar box and dark chocolate. Very balanced palate of black currant and black cherry, good spice and some emerging earthy flavors. Tannins and acid provide excellent support towards long finish. This is a wonderful "old fashioned" California Cabernet that comes across as less ripe, lower alcohol than vintages from the past decade. (2893 views) | |
| Tasted by 1961Vintage on 4/7/2012 & rated 95 points: Decanted for an hour..evolved nicely in the glass...very complex and drinkable...Worth every year of waiting. Enjoyed at my son's 21st birthday dinner...1991 for 1991. (2631 views) | |
| Tasted by AllRed on 9/28/2011 & rated 95 points: Finishing up Saturday's remnants. Deep color. Notes of blackberry, cassis, chocolate, licorice, blue fruit and violets. Perfect balance, with a terrific velvety texture and flavors of black and red fruit and herbal qualities. Superb. (3121 views) | |
| Tasted by AllRed on 9/24/2011 & rated 94 points: 4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Our house): Dark color. A little mushroomy to start; then black currants, violets and graphite aromas. Very well-balanced, with flavors of dark fruit, plum and florals, with good acidity and a long finish. Velvety texture. (3802 views) | |
| Tasted by agbailey on 7/31/2011 & rated 94 points: Enjoyed during celebration of our anniversary weekend ... and an interesting contrast to a 91 Dominus had the night before. The HSS had very powerful dark fruits on the nose. Flavors were of dark fruits with still strong tanins and nice acidity. Long finish. Very powerful wine and still drinking incredibly young at this point. Delicious wine that my wife and i definitely enjoyed, though we slightly preferred the Dominus. If blind would have thought this was from 2001 or later. This could easily go for another 10-20 years, and if you are considering drinking and are certain of provenance, I would definitely hold for at a few years at least. (3498 views) | |
| Tasted by winopops3 on 12/29/2010 & rated 94 points: Beautiful rich garnet color. Nose of tobacco and chocolate. Beautiful dark fruit on the palate along with the tobacco and chocolate-tannins present but soft. The finish is long enough to satisfy. This wine tasted amazingly fresh to me given the fruit, and likely has many more years ahead of it. 94-95 (3635 views) | |
| Tasted by tahoe1231 on 10/16/2010: Drank for dad and tracys bday (3620 views) | |
| Tasted by thomaskeil on 10/10/2010 & rated 92 points: Sunday Evening (My House, Denver, CO): Decanted 3 hours. Deep violet with bare red tinge. Nose of dark berries, earth, graphite. Fruit is deep and dark and penetrates well. Tannins well integrated, but present as is a refreshing acidity. Not much sense of complexity beyond dark fruit and some pepper. Good sense of balance. Enhanced experience with Wagyu ribeyes -- Patrick was exhilarated. (4090 views) | |
| Tasted by salil on 6/10/2010 flawed bottle: Vinegary. Dead. Sigh. (From a leaking bottle, so not a shock, but still disappointing.) (3884 views) | |
| Tasted by fredb on 1/25/2010: Dark red color. Aromas of tobacco, cassis, cedar, and some sweet herb. On the palate, a very masculine profile of cassis and tobacco. This was initial impression after decanting. Illness prevented me from watching this evolve with air and food. Appeared to be well received, but nobody swooned. Tannins were well integrated, but not fully resolved. Preferred the '91 Monte Bello of earlier this month to this by a fair margin, but this is a nice wine with continued upside potential from further cellaring. (4016 views) | |
| Tasted by jsebiri on 4/5/2009: very nice when iinitially opened , first glass had the most fruit . after that though the fruit didnt dominate and the wine was only one dimentional . while very good , it was slightly disappointing .92/93 rating (4405 views) | |
| Tasted by clayfu on 12/1/2008 & rated 93 points: A big old nose of deep musty rich floral bouqet with copious amounts of dark fruit, barnyard,leather and licorice. Really dark brooding fruit mixed with cedar, smoke,tobacco and pepper on the palate. Really soft but with a nice sturdy tannic backbone that makes me believe this wine still has some age on it. Really complex and complete wine, everything mixed well with each other and exposed itself at the opportune times to keep you coming back. (4874 views) | |
| Tasted by gorm on 7/5/2008 & rated 97 points: Still dark red. Fabolous nose of red and blue berries, pencil shavings, smoke and black tea. In the mouth this is perfectly round and mature with almost no tannin grip. Yet the fruit is extremely healthy and upfront. Very seducing and one of the best examples of mature wine that I have ever had. (4617 views) | |
| Tasted by ERoss on 1/17/2008 & rated 93 points: 1990s Shafer Hillside Select Vertical (The Cellar Master's Lair (Somers, CT)): Medium-ruby red in color. Sweet, smoky oak with black currant, pepper notes. At first approach, somewhat short and angular, but with a few minutes in the glass - wow, really sexy with perfectly integrated tannins balanced with still ripe black fruit flavors. Drinking exceptionally now, but probably 10-15 years of life remaining. [Group placement 2/8] (5872 views) | |
| Tasted by dbkitc on 11/4/2007 & rated 98 points: Lovely deep ruby color. Glorious nose of deep fruits mixed with earth and a hint of coffee and leather. OHHHH so complex. The palate is full and long – simply stunning wine. This would do beautifully in a mature Bordeaux tasting. Easily the class of the night in my opinion (both style and execution) and one of the better bottles of US wine I have ever had. (98) (5229 views) | |
| Tasted by SeaBud on 7/16/2007 & rated 96 points: A crowd pleaser and w/ suprising complexity. Dark fruit, tobacco, hint of brush (not green). Medium tannin - balanced. Finish a little short. Did not decant but opened several hours before serving. (5145 views) | |
| Tasted by JeffGMorris on 6/23/2007 & rated 91 points: The Once In A Lifetime Dinner (Raleigh, NC): So does California Cab age? It does when it's from one of the state's true First Growths! Still a somewhat opaque purple in color, this wine started off a bit slow but really opened with time in the glass. Nice depth to the fruit and good richness, though not nearly as much as the '86 Lafite this glass sat next to during the meat course. Very elegant and refined, particularly for a New World wine. 50+12+13+8+8 = 91 (6132 views) | |
| Tasted by Hank Gillespie on 6/2/2007: The Wine Summit: Shafer Hillside Select - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 10:45 A.M. (The Post Hotel in Lake Louise, AB): Dense, dark ruby – medium rim; on th nose an attractive mix of herbs, olives, roasted nuts and sweet black currant jam; acids and tannins provide a firm structure – a nice frame to display and focus on the concentrated black currant fruit – powerful and deep – black currant fruit carries through a long finish. (6207 views) | |
| Tasted by Paul Lin on 4/28/2007 & rated 91 points: Shafer Hillside Select Vertical Dinner (1989-2002) (California Club, Los Angeles, CA): My favorite of the flight, as people noticed by pointing out my empty glass. It was the only one of the flight that I finished. Silky and refined, with plush notes of currant, tobacco, and orange peel. Drinking extremely well now, with no need to hold any longer. (6502 views) | |
| Tasted by d7jersey on 8/26/2006 & rated 93 points: Wow lovely wine must have been a perfect time to drink. (5682 views) | |
| Tasted by winefool on 6/1/2006: We decided to serve this with the other early 90s wines instead of with the younger Hillside Selects and I think it was a good call. As good as the Beringer was showing, I think the Shafer edged it out for WOTF. Full opaque black/red. Forward aroma of black fruit and cassis. Mmmn. Really rich sweet black fruit on the palate. This bottle was drinking noticeable better than that last time I had it and it was among my favorite wines of the evening (just behind the 01 HSS and the Colgin). eBob tasting. ? pts. 6/06 (4723 views) | |
| Tasted by psmith on 3/18/2006 & rated 91 points: A totally different wine that modern-day HSS - reminds me more of a classic Napa Diamond Creek or Mayacaymas. Rich and youthful cabernet fruit with an unexpected herbal and pencil-lead character. Framed by ultra-fine tannins and clearly capable of lasting and improvement. (5260 views) | |
| Tasted by TashNYC on 2/21/2006 & rated 86 points: We ordered the Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet at Tribecca Grill after the American Grafitti California wine tasting. We requested the sommelier not decant it--b/c that is how we prefer our wine. Unfortunately, she decided to decant it, anyway (b/c a couple of pieces of cork had fallen into the bottle, and she couldn't figure out how to otherwise remove them). This was very unfortunate, from the perspective of tasting the wine, as virtually all of the nose was gone, and the deep, concentrated fruit flavors and tannins (which we could detect from the small amount in the bottle, not decanted) were reduced. The wine was still nice, w/ age herb flavors, but it wasn't what it should be. Certainly not worth $225 retail ($180 discounted for the night). Needless to say, I was disappointed at the poor wine service there. I suspect if the bottle had not been decanted, the wine would have been fabulous. (5593 views) | |
| Tasted by jwgauthier on 12/7/2005 & rated 95 points: Although closed at first, after a while in the glass it started to open. Much stronger fruit than any in this flight, with a smooth finish and velvety texture. I was very impressed with this one and for some at the table, this was their WOTN. (5445 views) | |
| Tasted by dbg on 4/8/2005: outstanding! (3820 views) | |
| Tasted by winefool on 4/1/2005 & rated 92 points: From memory - a nice rich cab, but not as special as I would have expected. 4/05 (4476 views) | |
| Tasted by Chateaunewf on 9/1/2003 & rated 94 points: Drank at Trevor's 40th birthday party with Young and Jane Kim, Lorenzo and Nathalie Gaggini, Paul and Jane Nunes, Dewey and Mee Satterfield, Oisin and Lynda Murray. Beautifully ripe dark fruit but still young in magnum with tannis still evolving. (6140 views) | |
| Tasted by dbg on 3/31/2001: outstanding! still dark red, plums & black fruits on nose, great depth, very full body, excellent balance, still moderately tannic, long finish with tannins but not drying, tons of fruit there, will probably get even better over the next year or two (3220 views) |
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ShaferProducer websiteJohn Shafer and his family founded Shafer Vineyards, located in the Stags Leap District of the Napa Valley, in 1979. From the Shafers' first wine, a 1978 Cabernet Sauvignon, their wines have won much acclaim. Today, the Shafers farm 200 acres of vineyard in the Stags Leap District, Carneros and Oak Knoll regions. Their flagship wine, Hillside Select, is produced from selected blocks of the family's hillside vineyards and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. They also produce Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, Merlot, One Point Five (Cabernet Sauvignon) and Relentless (a Syrah/Petite Sirah blend), which was named #1 wine of the year by Wine Spectator's "Top 100" of 2012. Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet Sauvignon USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-PetersonNapa ValleyNapa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Stags Leap DistrictStags Leap District |