Important Update From the Founder
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The Wine Summit: Shafer Hillside Select - Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 10:45 A.M.
The Post Hotel in Lake Louise, AB
Tasted June 2, 2007 by Hank Gillespie with 992 views
Introduction
The second tasting on Saturday morning was conducted by John Shafer who presented a vertical of the Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon. About 55 acres of the 200 acre property are planted exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon. Total production from this estate is 34,000 cases annually from yields between 1.75 and 2.0 tons per acre. The best blocks are devoted to the Hillside Select cuvee., which is released 4 years following harvest. John preferred to taste the wines with the oldest first running through to the most recent vintage. He concluded his presentation with a brief summary of the core values of the business – respect and care for each other : employees, customers and suppliers; integrity; service – giving back to the community and others; excellence. Son Doug has been making the wines for several years now and John is extremely proud of Doug’s work.
Flight 1 (9 notes)
Red
1987 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Dark ruby – amber rim; warm bouquet – coffee/mocha – spice – slight herbal edge; mellow on the palate – harmonious texture – ripe currant fruit – some oak influence – balanced; tasty finish – lingers – an elegant offering.
Red
1991 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
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.
Red
1993 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Dark mahogany hued ruby – medium rim; bouquet of deep flowing black currant fruit – dried flower petals; nicely styled – some elegance in this wine, although there is some bulk to the wine; fair structure – good mouth feel – balanced wine – lots of black currant fruit; flows from entry through to its attractive finish – lingering fruit – full of harmony. As an aside, we drank this wine on Saturday evening at dinner – paired with Alberta Bison cheeks braised in Port sauce on a celery puree. A terrific partnership ! I told John Shafer that it was another highlight for the meal. He thought this vintage one of their weaker efforts, but it was certainly not weak as an accompaniment to the Bison.
Red
1994 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Dark/opaque ruby with a medium rim; exceptional depth on the bouquet – perfumy – purity of expression – rich and forward fruit, tobacco, coffee and cream, few notes of cedar and dark fruits in abundance; round and full on the palate – supple texture – hugely concentrated – mouthcoating ripe currant fruit; well knit and harmonious – beautifully rich; delicious; extremely long finish – all fruit driven. WOW !
Red
1996 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Very dark – tight to the rim; more moderate aromas – trying to surface, but seem a bit reticent at this stage – coaxing brought out a mix of black currants and smoky oak; lost of bnrry fruit on the palate – black currants and a bit of ripe blueberry; tannins more pronounced but finishes with the fruit holding above them. As it sat in the glass, and on swirling for some period of time, the wine began to slowly evolve, with the fruit building all the way through the finish. This needs a bit of time but should become a tremendous wine.
Red
1998 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Again a dark dense ruby, very thin rim; penetrating berry on the nose – all black currants; well structured wine – acidty and tannins holding the fruit on the frame; excellent fruit – pure – mostly blackberry, but it’s not as persistent as the previous wine; attractive finish, but not as lengthy. Couldn’t decide whether this wine is holding back or whether the vintage didn’t allow the depth as with other wines here.
Red
1999 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Dense, dark black/purple with a thin pink rim; spicy aromas – sweet black currant, and short sniffs brought forth some smoky vanillan oak; creamy texture – round and rich; hugely concentrated berry fruit; harmonious structure – very full but seamless in the mix of flavours; liked the acidity and the soft tannins are presently riding under the black currant fruit; finish is full of harmony and one is left eager for the next sip. Very fine.
Red
2001 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Full appearance – black/purple with a thin purple rim; spices on the nose – mix of fresh berries – runs up the nostrils and there is a bit of milk chocolate; Whew! A massive dose of black currant fruit spreads over the palate, literally overwhelming the other components; rich and full bodied leading to a very long finish – quite harmonious as it draws itself out – fruit though lasts and lasts. This is a terrific wine.
Red
2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Deep purple/black with virtually no rim; sweet flowing aromas full of berry fruit – spices, black currants, toast and some anise; creamy texture – full bodied with a large dose of concentrated sweet black currant fruit, which rises on the palate in waves and carries out to an extremely long finish. Once again, all of the parts here for a wonderful wine – just needs a bit of time. I’d like to taste this one again in 5 years.