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Community Tasting Notes 51
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Keeping It Real wrote: 93 points
March 23, 2018 - That Shafer fruit. Although 2003 was a disaster for most of Napa Valley, it was a good year for Shafer wines. Remember RP gave the 2003 Hillside Select 100pts. Maybe they picked the grapes before the rain or I don't know. Anyway, I had pretty high hopes for this one (although RP gave the 2003 Merlot 90pts).
Straight from pop and pour, the smell was so-so but improved as I swirled it around a couple times. First sip, whoa nice. Seamless entry and exit on the back end. Delicious fruit with a hint of umami. Then I remember, ah, it's that Stag's Leap fruit. This was a treat.
On a side note, I finished the whole bottle by myself and had a couple shots of whiskey afterwards. I am writing this review with an intense hangover. Cheers. -
iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 points
January 4, 2014 - Awesome merlot in the Cali style. Big, velvety, balanced with nice structure. Long finish with notes of chocolate. Nice nose. No rough edges. Sorry to see my last one go.
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pinchertwo wrote: 93 points
February 9, 2013 - Smooth for the wine. Opened up very nicely. Wine thAt I will buy more of.
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iamandyc wrote: 91 points
August 19, 2012 - Better on Day 1 than Day 3. Dark fruits on nose and palate with light vanilla. Some earthiness. Well balanced and long finish. Silky with nice acids and structure. By Day 3 there is a port-like quality starting to emerge - probably due to indifferent storage.
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yipen wrote: 90 points
December 4, 2011 - in Niujiangjun, this wine is powerful yet balance, it is fruity and dense but shows no alc heat. It changed my idea of a merlot. Nice wine to pair with steak.
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Pro Reviews 1
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By Stephen Tanzer
January/February 2006, IWC Issue #124 (link)(Shafer Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley Stags Leap District) Subscribe to see review text.
Wine Definition
- Vintage 2003
- Type Red
- Producer Shafer
- Varietal Merlot
- Designation n/a
- Vineyard n/a
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Napa Valley
- Appellation Napa Valley
- UPC Code 013528200029
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
- In Cellars 325 (41%)
- Consumed 472 (59%)
Food Pairing
No food pairings available.
Who Likes This Wine
100% Like It 7 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerShafer
- VarietyMerlot
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley
Add Articles
- Wine2003 Shafer Merlot (add)
- FamilyShafer Merlot (add)
- ProducerShafer
- VarietalMerlot
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley