Started off with this, which was light and refreshing. No grapefruit on this, which I liked. Surprised by the lower alcohol because their Zins are so high. Only took a little of this so didn't take great notes.

Super excited to try this legendary wine. There was a cork issue with this so it wasn't fully opened until we got to the restaurant and was promptly decanted. Nose on this was fantastic with sweet cherry, burning embers, blackberry, touch of earth and plum. The palate of this had flavors of blackberry, cherry, earth, mocha, fruitcake and a touch of iron. This still had a tannic bite on it so it really could have used at least a good two hours. Improved as we drank it. Ended with a huge blackberry infused finish that lasted at least a minute. This certainly didn't drink like a 15 year old Cabernet. Certainly had a long life ahead of it still. Lived up to the hype.

Decanted this for 2 hours before serving. Served right after the 2002 so it had some steep competition but this really held it's own. Got sweet cherries on the nose again along with blackberry, cassis, herb and mocha. Flavors of blackberry, kirsch liquor, chocolate, plum and a touch of cedar. Ends with a plum and cherry infused finish of around 50 seconds, right behind the 2002. Amazing to see the differences between these two wines. It's almost like all the same parts were there but just mixed up in a different way between the two years. Best showing of this wine for me yet.

A friend was going to bring a Scarecrow but didn't say the vintage. Turns our it was the 2007! This was also a pop and pour without the decant. Awesome nose of fruitcake, blackberry, mocha, cassis, dusty berry and a touch of iron. This was towering and structured with flavors of blackberry, loamy earth, chocolate, dark cherry, mineral and iron. Definitely has that Rutherford dust thing going on. Finish was over 60 seconds. Just an incredible wine.

This was decanted beforehand but unsure just how long. This varied greatly from the 2 proceeding Shafer's, mostly because of the age I believe. Got some plum, cherry, blackberry, mocha and iron on this much younger nose. Flavors of blackberry, fruitcake, wild cherry, iron and a touch of plum. Ended with a 40-45 second finish. Still a very young wine at this point. This is a great wine but easy to overlook because of the great lineup.

This was the surprise of the tasting. Another pop and pour. Aromas of blackberry, mocha, loamy earth, cherry and a touch of coffee. Flavors of blackberry, cherry, dusty berry, mocha and iron. Slowly unfolds in your mouth with just layers of flavor. Finish lasted well over a minute with notes of blackberry. This was like a younger version of the 2007. Someone else said it best, the Shafer is just a really well made wine but the Scarecrow you get a sense of place. It's distinctive. Classic wine.

This was decanted beforehand as well but not sure how long. Stark contrast to the previous wines obviously. Aromas of mulberry, raspberry, spice, lavender, and herb. Flavors of mulberry, plum, iron, cherry and game. Ends with a 40-45 second finish. First time having Next of Kin and maybe this was too young but definitely a different wine from SQN. The SQN wines are distinctive and have their own unique personality. This, while certainly a good wine, was a Syrah. Nevertheless, an interesting wine for sure.