July 12, 2022 - Now I’m biased because Shafer HSS and Sunspot are my favourite wines. I’ve tasted a lot of wine since I started in 1993 and this could be the finest I have ever had. Still looks dark and brooding in the glass. Huge nose on opening this magnum. Lots of cedar and baking chocolate wafts from the glass. Melted liquorice and red fruit compote follow on the bouquet. Lovely mouthfeel almost hedonistic in texture, I probably only smelt for the first 20 minutes. Monumental in the mouth as black and red dessert fruits explode. Turns quickly to a flinty and cigar like older world taste style. The wine initially tricked me into believing it was younger than it was, quickly hitting me with its classic personality. Brilliant meshing if constituents into equilibrium like Picasso would do. This was more an experience than a glass of wine. Bravo!
February 5, 2022 - Dark fruit, super intense nose, cassis, grether's pastilles, STUNNING WINE. My wine of the night.
December 30, 2021 - Drank on its 20th Birthday and my birthday as well, but sadly not my 20th. This was in a wonderful place with fruit and tannins in balance, and some nice complexity emerging. I prefer this to the HSS from the same year which I find to be a bit more aggressive and one dimensional
December 17, 2021 - Holiday Champagne Gala (Park Ridge Country Club): Incredibly rich and hedonistic, I found this just a bit too sweet. So much here, and this is also a wine I almost understand why others enjoy, but I find it to excess.
December 17, 2021 - From magnum. Absolutely stunning for its depth and breadth of red succulent fruits. A sexy sensual wine notable for the purity of rich creamy fruits with enough backbone to keep it seemingly fresh and absolutely delicious. A hedonistic giving style offering all pleasure and no pain. For me, highlights the Shafer HSS style in the best possible way. Not a wine for wimps.
Opened for the Champagne Gala.
October 31, 2021 - From magnum. Sipped a bit right after opening, then left a full glass alone for 2 hours. After 20 years, this is still a big wine. The nose was all about dark fruit with an earthy component in the background. Palate had a velvety texture, with blueberry, mulberry, chocolate, and subtle oak flavors. It was well structured, with rounded tannins balancing the fruit. I do think the muted acidity indicates that it is at its prime, so if you have any, you might want to consider popping the cork on this wonderful wine!
October 16, 2021 - Smooth, smooth, smooth ; very nice nose; great finish; still life left on the fruit.
June 26, 2021 - I am a big fans of Shafer Hillside Select, so I bought this once I saw this. This is a special edition in 2001 for celebrating Shafer's 25 years of winemaking and John Shafer.
Slow ox for 5 hrs and drank for 3 hours.
Its juicy, balance, opulent and elegance with lingering finish, outstanding length and chocolate flavor. Pretty nose of red fruit, black fruit, tea, tobacco, cassis, oaky and slightly violet. Classy and stylish Napa cab with upside potential.
June 18, 2021 - I am a big fans of Shafer Hillside Select, so I bought this once I saw this. This is a special edition in 2001 for celebrating Shafer's 25 years of winemaking and John Shafer.
Slow ox for 5 hrs and drank for 3 hours.
Its juicy, balance, opulent and elegance with lingering finish, outstanding length and chocolate flavor. Pretty nose of red fruit, black fruit, tea, tobacco, cassis, oaky and slightly violet. Classy and stylish Napa cab with upside potential.
May 22, 2021 - Immediately upon opening the wine was a soft claret with a wet red cherry and shallow depth. Began opening up at the 75 to 90 minute mark and by 90 minutes was in a good place.
These notes are taken at the six hour mark (not decanted)And the wine is softening beyond its earlier peak. Faint cigar, Oldewood on the nose. Bricking at the edges.Wine is driven by black cherry and other fruits, but there’s enough tan and to hold this together and give a soft, dry but evident 2O second finish.
Enjoyed our first bottle of this when our daughter graduated high school. Five years later, we’re celebrating her year-delayed 2020 college graduation with family and great friends. Special bottle from a winery that has a lot of special meeting for Mrs. David and Rose and myself. Not quite as good as last nights 1998 Grange (Daughters birth year) but a strong second!
Cheers!