Opened and let breather for about 45 minutes. Needed about an hour and a half to really open. . Soft blue fruit bit not the power of my last bottle of HSS. Medium finish.
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Dark red and looked far younger than its age. Beautiful ight fruit and wood bark on the nose.
Definitely seems to be in a great spot and the decanting time was perfect. The heat that accompanies Hillside when young was gone and this was rounded.
Still good fruit - red and blue fruits.
HL 2 FD 3 Fin 4
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2 hour decant and it needed it. Quite primary on the palate with a beautiful nose, dark red fruits, blackberry, cloves. Tight on the palate but started to open up after 3 hours. Nose was really singing after 3 hours, but again a bit monolithic so this needs time. Can use at least a couple more years or more to resolve, maybe 5+ depending on the decant. High potential for us, and the last glass was the best.
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At twelve years this is in a great place and ready to drink. Displays a deep purple color, and full body. Elegant, exquisite, and classy. Deep, rich, and complex aromas and flavors of ripe black fruits, cigar box, soft leather, creamy chocolate, and loamy black dirt. Perfect balance: tannin, oak, and acid are all in harmony. Big, satisfying finish. Wonderful accompaniment to the grilled ribeye served to friends. Good vintages and bad, this wine is always consistent. Drink through 2040+.
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Hundred Acre wine tasting: Blind. Wow, what a difference 5 years can make. Compared to the 2005, I can safely conclude this is absolutely not ready. Wait 7 more years (because this one I think will need a little more time). And while you're waiting, if you're craving a SHS, crack open a bottle of 2005. That will surely provide you with much more pleasure.
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From magnum, It is holding up much better than I anticipated last time I had it 4 years ago. Dark color and strong blueberry compote with prominent oak. Drink or hold.
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Opened by AllRed. Decanted 6 hours before we paired it with ribeye steaks. Big and still very tight on the first day. More open on day two. Tar, blackberry and pencil lead notes. 92+ points.
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Decanted about 6 hours. Dark inky color. Notes of lavender, cassis, chocolate and currants. Firm but fine and sweet tannins. Abundant black fruit. Balanced. The following morning this was much more open on the palate. Added notes of tar and violet. Seamless on the palate. A stunning HSS in the making but needs an extended decant right now.
2 hr decant, this also needed to come to room temp to develop its finish. Pours like it was bottled last month, deep purple color w/dark berries, tobacco and alcohol on the nose and nice grip on the stem.
While this was extremely dry and dusty out of the cellar, there’s plenty of blackberry and black cherry above the tar, crushed stone and coffee as it comes to temp. Finish is front palate and shorter than I’d like, with only a hint of the alcohol found on the nose.
Solid for a 2010, this continues to lose depth and finish, so I’m glad I didn’t wait to pop our final bottle. This was better from Somm stems than std stems if you’ve got the option.
While I opened this as motivation to act on my HSS offering, I continue to question the price point and generally continue to purchase - though less than I used to - only for sentimentality.
While different stylistically, Quilceda has all stuffing, finesse, ability to age (and cachet for those who care) for less than half what HSS charges today.
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Friday Wine Group - JL (Blind Lunch): Tasted blind - deep, dark crimson in the glass, nose of blue fruit. No bricking. Well integrated tannins and fruit, was not a fruit bomb, nor an overly tannic wine, especially compared to the Dominus right before it. Lots of red and blue fruits on the palate. I called a new world syrah.
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I decanted for 2 hours and put back in bottle for transport to restaurant. You can say what you want, but Hillside in a glass is as beautiful as it gets! Perfect balance; I think this a wine now transitioning from fruit to secondary notes. There is restraint on both sides. Great enjoyment. Much to come.
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Rather disappointing. Lacked any significant tannins and a short finish. Nose was rather muted and profile soft without any strong taste profiles. This was the 2nd 2010 and seems to be falling off rather than the deep resonating taste that I have become accustom to with Shafer.
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The color, the nose, the finish....this is just outstanding. Would have been happy just smelling this wine in the glass all night. Of course, did more than just that and just a really fantastic bottle all of wine. So much life in the bottle right now there is zero hurry to consume. Got better and better as the 2 hours passed that we enjoyed it.
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Densely packed and still took awhile to come around despite a 2 hour slow-ox. I believe the best days are still to come for this wine and if drinking now would give a vigorous 4-5 hour decant.
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Lovely blue fruits. Long finish. Still seems a notch below the best Napa cabs I’ve had. Don’t see it’s 100-point rating. It’s great but not outstanding
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High expectations on this of course. Decant of about 45min, then back to bottle. Wonderful nose with lots of violets, some lavender and a little bit of liquorice. Full bodied and elegant mouth feel. Powerful finish with good length. Really good structure. Palate was not overly fruity nor very dense. Just that was the point I missed a little for a wine with this reputation and price: a bit more fruit and density in the palate. But my personal opinion. Still, very good. Not sure about improvement but it has for sure 5-10 more years to go. 95p.
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First third of the bottle was out of sommelier stems, which gave the wine a slightly BRIEFR but more polished finish than regular stems.
Nearly 2 hours later we are back on the standard stems; these notes are from then.
Dark rich fruit on the nose, little vanilla, glycerin black pepper and alcohol. Well balanced on the palate; still gobs of fruit - to a shocking degree for a 2010 - with a elegant, polished finish.
Finish lasts for 20+ seconds. This is still good for several more years and is an outstanding wine from the vintage. Arguably it’s even a better QPR vs recent vintages when they’ve jacked the price up to 325 a bottle.
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I drank this too early (if there is such a thing). Aromas and flavors were good (not great - expected a little more). Tannins were settled and acidity was perfect (thus 94 points). This paired perfect with the Allen Bros ribeye that I grilled tonight. This wine would work with a lighter tasting meat...it is enjoyable.
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Inky purple with blackberry and cassis on the nose, the 2016 Shafer Hillside select is very much in its youth. Could not resist trying to see where it stands at a decade of age. The tannins are still a bit grippy but complemented by generous acidity and a load of black fruit. Impeccably balanced as always but another decade is needed before I crack another.
These wines are aged in new French oak for a surprisingly long time (32 months) but you never get the sense that the HS is over-oaked, even in their youth.
The Hillside wines have long been favorites of mine and are always one of the best values of elite California Cabernet (coupled with Pride Reserve wines). If you haven't tried them, you should; like great Bordeaux, they last forever. Cheers.
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First impression out of the bottle. This is still quite young... I had read some advice on here to not decant, so I didn't... and it's definitely a bit hot and austere on the finish. Very nice wine, I can't tell if it just needs more time in the bottle or a bit more air to open up.
After 2 hours. Better, but still not 100% there. There are better Napa Cabs out there for $350++/bottle in my opinion. Maybe in 5 years it’s value will present itself more than it does today. Again, still very good, just not $400 good.
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Pop and pour; the first half of the bottle was out of the decanter and followed over 1h45. Cork barely showed any age though the wine was definitely lighter around the edges.
Aroma was more concentrated from standard cab stems than the Somms, which gave a weaker nose and much shorter finish. Dust and must on the nose, along w watery blackberry, red plum, aged cedar and a hint of anise.
While the wine seems to be fruit-dominant, this quickly shows a heavy coating of dust that lingers over the mid-to-back palate, revealing layers of depth and complexity beyond the more prominent black cherry. We caught tobacco, chocolate, and even cola late into its 40+ second finish.
Drinking the remaining portion out of the bottle, the fruit was brighter and more ripe than from the decanter; it easily seemed to be 5 years younger than the decanted wine, while losing no sense of elegance.
Really impressive from a challenging year. I won’t decant my remaining 2 bottles, which can last another 3-6 years, but I’d personally drink within 1-3.
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Small glass, brief note. rich start that I liked a lot. Very dense and concentrated, while able to retain a good sense of balance. Less exciting in the middle, not quite hollow, but not quite complete. Good length, but more ripe/ warm than I'd prefer on finish.
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Kleur: Diep ondoordringbar donkerrood. Aroma / bouquet: Een indrukwekkende explosie van aroma's, zeer typerend voor een hoge Napa Cabernet, verfijnd hout, geconfijte kers, zwarte bessen compote, zachte zoete drop, menthol. Smaak / Afdronk: Wow. Ultieme power in een ultieme harmonie, kenmerkend voor Hillside Select. Frisse start, krachtige tannines, mooi gerijpt, serieus alcoholpercentage dat echter wat mij betreft perfect harmonieert met de indrukwekkende vulling. Retronasale indrukken van kers, bessen, menthol en zacht zoete drop. Indrukwekkend lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Robert Parker beoordeelde deze wijn met 100 punten. Ik sluit daar graag bij aan. Briljante wijn van één van de meest consistente kwaliteits-wijnmakers van Napa Vally maar, in verhouding tot 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Smaak / Afdronk: 20 + Algemeen / potentieel: 10 = 100/100
Google Translate:
Color: Deeply impenetrable dark red. Aroma / bouquet: An impressive explosion of aromas, very typical of a high Napa Cabernet, refined wood, candied cherry, black currant compote, soft sweet drop menthol. Taste / Aftertaste: Wow. Ultimate power in an ultimate harmony, characteristic of Hillside Select. Fresh start, powerful tannins, nicely aged, serious alcohol percentage that, in my opinion, perfectly harmonizes with the impressive filling. Retronasal impressions of cherry, berries, menthol and soft sweet licorice. Impressively long finish. General / potential: Robert Parker rated this wine with 100 points. I am happy to agree with that. Brilliant wine from one of the most consistent winemakers from Napa Vally but, in relation to 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Taste / Finish: 20 + General / potential: 10 = 100/100
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Massive, powerful, concentrated and loaded to the top with layers of ripe, dark berries, jam, smoke, espresso, vanilla and licorice. Still primary, it is not ready for prime time drinking yet, as everything still needs to come together.
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While not the powerhouse 100 point rating I was expecting; however, this wine is still in a very young phase (only 9 years old) and it was only open for an hour before consumption. I'll definitely wait another 2-3 years before popping the next bottle. Definitely some ripeness on the pallete before some of the layers of dark black and blue fruit kicked in. Some tobacco and vanilla started to develop. Mild/medium finish.
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Lived up to the hype. Large and in charge. Classic Napa, but with a tannic structure and inviting acidity all its own. Rounded out over the course of two hours. Gone too soon.
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California BYOB #14: dark red. Berries, chocolate, oak and hints of coffee. Intense and concentrated mouthfeel with dark cherries, chocolate, coffee and loads of new oak. 1 BV. Interesting that the 12 got 7 best votes and the 10 only 1. Very similar wines to me.
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Not open for business yet. Decanted for four hours but that wasn‘t nearly enough. Opened-up a bit further with three hours in the glass. Closed, muted nose only revealing hints of cassis, violets and some dried herbs. Same thing on the palate. Textbook Napa Cab aromas, high complexity seem there but you get just the idea of the great wine it will be one day. Good structural frame with round tannins, a fresh acidity and a great balance. Certainly on the more elegant, bordeauxesque side of Napa, not trying to score with overwhelming opulence. I’ve made the same experience with a bottle I opened myself two months ago. So don‘t drink it yet. In case you can‘t resist, give it at least a 7 hours decant (and then better only drink it the next day).
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While I’ve always been a big HSS fan (it was our wedding wine nearly 22 years ago) this was not as good as I recall from my last bottle 2 yrs ago. Aired from bottle for an hour, then a hour in the decanter, then followed over 2.5 hrs.
Muted nose of dark coffee and mocha with spice box. Medium-light mouthfeel; there’s some weight and structure to the wine but the finish is fairly brief at 10-15 seconds. Tastes more old world than typical for a HSS; Nothing really wrong with the wine other than the finish is not as rich or layered as I typically expect. Imagine this is bottle variation based on other notes and prior experience.
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From mag. Give this a long decant and you will be in for a true. Power and grace all at the same time. Undeniably Napa, rich and powerful, yet it doesn't come close to feeling overdone. Monumental effort. Still plenty of upside. Will try to stay away for a few more years. 94++
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Brought to high end steakhouse and had it opened right away but it needs way more time to open than a restaurant dinner allows. By evening’s end we were really enjoying the end of the bottle but felt like we’d squandered the first 3/4’s. Dark fruits and plum favors abound - chewy and more massive structure than the typical silkiness found in a Hillside Select.
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This wine needed three hours in the decanter to open up a bit but it never showed its true colors that night. However, the components for greatness are there. But the wine is currently in a rather sleepy phase. If you pop a bottle today decant it for at least 6h and you will get a Napa power house which remains on the elegant side of what Napa Valley can deliver.
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Since all the reviews are in the high 90’s but as yet no one agreed with Robert Parker that it deserves the perfect score I’m going to rate it 100 points. This is the first 2010 Hillside we’ve tasted and I’ll be saving the other 5 for later, probably drink the next one December, 2018. It needs a little more time.
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Only had a very small poor and this is a drop-dead gorgeous wine. In a great place right now and for years to come. Drink now with a 2 hour or more decant or lay down in the cellar for a few more years.
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Opaque. Crème de cassis and a sweet toasty note on the nose. Add baking spices and pencil shavings on the palate. A hedonistic wine no doubt, but structured and fresh all the same. Left me feel privileged.
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Exceptionally smooth and well balanced. Blueberry, vanilla, some cedar. Drinking well now. I don't think this will be the longest living HSS but entering its drinking window now.
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Wow, what an amazing bottle of wine! Pop and pour - drank over the course of 2 hours.
This wine has an incredible nose, predominately with dark fruit, some hints of vanilla, and touches of cigar box, tobacco, and even pink roses.
On the palate this wine is just so elegant - still mighty tannins for a seven year old wine at this point, and then layers of richness with a long finish. The alcohol (15.5%) is almost not noticeable with how complex and well put together this wine is. You take one sip of this and it just leaves you wondering "wow!"
Wish I could cherish the experience over and over. After drinking this wine - I felt empowered, energized, and ready to tackle the world. It is that good and only getting better. Drinking absolutely perfect now and will do so for many more years to come!
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Beautiful bouquet with smoke, cassis and beautifully dosed oak. Same on the palate. Black berries, lead pencil, full bodied and powerful, but also round and elegant wine. Extremely good wine with a lot of future.
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Single blind. Deep inky opaque color. Cassis, black currant, vanilla, maybe some dill (?- something herbal along that line), with floral undertones. Fine tannin with flavors of black fruit and a long finish. Lavender and redwood forest notes emerge with vigorous swirling. On the palate there's an abundance of black fruit- cassis, currant and black cherry- to go along with the incredibly fine, well-knit tannins. For as big and structured as this wine is, it's neither clumsy nor heavy- it's impeccably balanced. Finish lasts well over a minute. Easy to pick out as our HSS, but a few tasters didn't pick this out as cabernet, though everyone loved it calling it "rich," "wonderful" and "balanced." 94-95 pts.
This had been decanted for 6.5 hours then allowed to breathe in bottle for another 2. The tasting was not officially an "uptown" but (a) the host said there would be good wines, (b) we had this standing as an option for R&D's anniversary the week before, (c) one of the tasters in this group is a friend of the Shafer family, and (d) we had seven bottles, so bringing this was essentially a no-brainer. Drink from 2020+.
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A bit of seepage under the foil, has been stored properly since purchase from retail source. Big and rich, goes on for days can stand up to healthy decanting easily. I wouldn't say this has perfect balance and perhaps it never will, but I enjoyed it for what it is.
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Dense dark red. Absolutely loaded with baking spice , cedar, and tobacco on the nose. Racy, mineral laden, black currents, black cherry, and the fruit softens the effect of the tannins . No heat, all of these elements are in perfect balance. With additional air time it did pick some blueberry cobbler flavors. This finishes with tart and tannic blackberry compote that goes on for minutes.
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Explosive nose. Vanilla, cocoa, baking spices. Black raspberry, blackberry. Tobacco, cassis, earth. Just incredible. Still tannic but a finish that goes on forever.
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Decanted for 3 hours and followed over 3. Heady blue and blackberry aromas as the wine pours into the decanter. Pencil lead, cigar and toasted barrel on the nose, with a hint of black pepper. Tastes a little strong of alcohol, but is otherwise an impressively smooth and well-balanced. Blue and blackberry are joined by black plum, more pencil lead, and vanilla-flavored tobacco. Decant time served the wine very well. A solid HSS and an impressive 2010.
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Had this next to two other 100pt RP wines - '12 Schrader CCS and '13 Maybach Materium. This came in #3 by a wide margin for all of us. It's a great wine, but was a level below the other two on this night.
Decanted for 8 hours before consuming. Nice forest floor, pencil shavings and blueberry notes on the nose. The texture is fantastic, delivering blueberries in a silky manner onto the pallet. A dense and concentrated wine, but there is some bitterness on the mid pallet and finish that was very obvious when comparing it to the Maybach and Schrader. It seems to need a lot more age before it is really ready to show what in can do. Certainly a lot of upside in the future.
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A glorious modern red that provides incredible power in an integrated fashion. Near black in color, full in body, warm nose of chocolate, cherry, and pencil. Explosive, deep, and bright tastes of blackberry, blueberry, mocha, granite, and cedar, with a silky finish that goes on and on. 15.5% alcohol (more than I would have guessed). A powerful wine, to be sure, but few wines provide such intensity with such class. I'm sure the patient will be rewarded, but I am not one of them: decant it 1-2 hours, and this wine is magnificent right now.
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We popped and poured this. This needs at least 3-6 hours to be its best. Like most Shafer HSS the alcohol is somewhat pronounced upon opening. This was outstanding even after just 30min in the glass. Huge extracted blueberry pie a la mode on the nose as well as throughout the experience. Very very dark, rich, full bodied, silky, and teeth staining. This bottle showed very well tonight. see previous notes This was amazingly close to the 1991 Shafer HSS with such a powerful Blueberry dominance.
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This bottle was closed and very tight upon opening. It was consumed in a large group so it never had any time to open what so ever. More closed than the other 2010 HSS I have had. This is a tremendous wine. See previous notes
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Lots of great wines with friends; 12/19/2015-12/20/2015 (E, 4th St.): OMG. Wow. What can you say. This was popped and allowed to breathe for about 1.5 hours. It needed at least 10 IMO and would have probably merited a higher score. Inky purple in color. The nose is amazing. Cassis, pencil lead, slight floral notes, coffee and cedar. Amazing velvety texture. Pinpoint balance. Delicious and deep. Tightly layered as it unwinds in the glass. Juicy black currant and blueberry fruit. Slight coffee. Long finish. Decades left, but I would wait at least a few more years before opening.
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A wow wine, but almost too much of a good thing currently. Big ripe sweet lush dense broad red cherry and blueberry fruits dominate, quite sweet and bombastic while amazing also very one dimensional today. Lost out in blind tasting to 2012 Schrader RBS which was more subtle and every bit as delicious. Won't open another HSS '10 for long time.
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First day it felt a bit hot but after 1 day without vacuvin was much better. Very dense and extracted but with good balance and beautiful fruit. Typical California cab but very well executed
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100% Cabernet Sauvignon- 32 months in 100% new French oak.
Rich and opulent. Huge aromas of vanilla cream, cassis, cherry cordial, chocolate ganache along with herbs, cedar and graphite. Decadent and rich on the palate with currant, cherry, cassis and plum with notes of herbs, chocolate, pencil shavings, cigar and earth. Long and plush on the finish letting the silky tannins unfold.
This wine needs at least another 5 years in bottle to hit its stride.
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Drank at Auberge Du Soliel in Napa Valley. Drank along side a 2002 and it was simply stunning. Perhaps better than the 2002. Deep, dark, rich, fatty, loads of blueberry, coffee, cola, vanilla. Smooth and seamless. What a wine!
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This bottle got a quick 30 min decanted and was initially rich dense and packed with ripe dark red creamy fruits, but the tannin and acid structure quickly took over in the glass tonight and this thing shutdown very hard. Huge potential, but I will not open one for at least a couple of years, although maybe a very long decant would help. Bottle should have a tag "Closed For Business, went fishing"
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Kenk's review is spot-on...if jjaffee can wait until 2024, he's faaaharrrr more patient than I'll ever be...and as for Qourt, we need to talk! Seriously, I'd be happy to buy any remaining bottles you have at $1...maybe 2/point! Absent of that, I respect provocateurs with 75-point rating scales.
This is seriously mind-blowing juice, the kind of wine that makes Napa-centric snobs like my idiot brother almost seem reasonable. Am excited to go back to a local eatery offering this for $100 less than the going retail tariff.
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Big momma. Dense lush creamy sweet intense dark rich chocolate cherry flavors in super concentrated powerful style. Very nicely done, but almost over the top. Amazing it's five years since vintage and tastes like a barrel sample, purity of fruit cannot be denied and well balanced with soft set tannins and finshes with a friendly well hidden acidic brightness that goes on and on. Highly drinkable with a perfectly done medium rare 3" thick Flannery ribeye. I will not open another for at least a few years unless my headonisic cravings surface.
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Way to young but oh so very lovely nonetheless. Great fruit profile and remarkable balance so early in its life. After several years cellared this should really shine. Could be a 100 pointer someday.
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The wine has low acidity. It smells like black currant (cassis). The wine finishes short. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The wine has smooth texture.
Fireworks. This is a delicious, in your face (at this point) seamless Cabernet. Full of berries both dark and crunchy. Lots of stuff going on in the glass but there is some very young oak in the form of vanilla that needs to settle down. Wow wine even at this stage.
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Cherries and dark berries, tobacco, spices on the nose. Great depth and richness, but not jammy at all. Very youthful on the palate with powerful, round but drying tannins, revealing ripe, pure fruit. There is lots of acidity, too. The wine is impeccably well balanced already. Spicy and mineral towards the persistent and intense finish. This needs lots of time but will be superb. 95-96+(+)
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Formal tasting at the winery; opaque dark purple color consistent with HSS with violet and dark fruit aromatics. Not as expressive or vibrant on initial palate as one might expect from a RMP 100 point wine, but depth of blue and dark fruit well delineated with the HSS volcanic soil characteristics mid palate of gravel & dusty rock, which petrude into the fruit a bit at this stage.
Wonderful structure with perfect balance of acidity and slightly elevated tannins creating a smooth, classic wine, which can be approachable now, but wil reward those who wait as quality fruit will yield a longer finish. This should be a typical HSS in longevity with optimal drinking window lasting up to 10-12 years before a slight dropoff occurs due to brix level of 24-26% at harvest. That's not to say it won't be enjoyable past 12 years.
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Limited notes. So deep and complex nose, the elements are perfectly balanced. This is a massive, packed wine but still no heavýness despite a 15,5% alcohol level, a sheer treat. Can't score but it would end up in the very highest end.
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A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Just a few notes during an extensive tasting, but this is a truly great and concentrated wine. Loaded with cassis and other dark forest fruits, beautiful oak, great acidity and beautiful but firm tannin with great potential. Still much too young. In due time this might be a wine which deserves the perfect score and even outclasses the so beautiful 2002. Really hope to taste this wine again around 2025 or at any moment from now! Superb wine! 98++ for now.
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Complex wine. Blackcurrant, excellent structure. Tannins dominate the palate beginning to end; to me this wine is closed and the 93 rating is based on the wine at this stage. I'd keep this deep in the cellar and let sleep for 7-10 more years.
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Wow! This wine was truly spectacular even at this stage. It is young, and a bit tannic but I can't see this wine getting any better. Unfortunately, it did not last long enough to truly evaluate it over time, but I have three more and will not go near them for a least a few years.
Shafer Vineyards Wine Tasting and Visit (Napa Valley, CA): By far, this was the most enjoyable wine of the 2014 releases. I wonder where the 2011 vintage will take them? Very fruity plum on the nose with a touch of tobacco and menthol. A blackberry and plum fruit-forward palate with a very long, luxurious dark chocolate finish. Beautifully balanced with soft tannins and a nice acidic backbone. The wine was soft, but not particularly vibrant in the mouth. A very refined style. An excellent Napa Cabernet, but at $250/btl retail, difficult to justify the price.
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Just couldn't help myself in opening one. I know it is a mere baby and needs a bunch of time but its so fun to drink. Loads of fruit, loads of tannins and really loads of everything. Can't wait to try this again in about 10 years.
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Tasted at the winery. The tasting went from cool to memorable when Jon Shafer popped in. Cassis, licorice, earthy notes and spice. Clearly youthful but so nice. So plush now but with so much more to give. Scooped up two. I need to wait at least a few years for the first one and maybe ten for the other.
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Winery tasting. Very complex nose for a young wine: cherries, blackberries, leather. Complex flavors with those and currants and spice. Wonderful lingering finish.
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2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): Opaque crimson in color, this wine is heavily-extracted yet perfectly balanced. It is arguably the best Napa Cabernet of the 2010 vintage. Opulent on the nose and palate, it delivers black currants, bramble fruits, licorice, fig and Asian spices. Full-bodied and with low-to-medium acidity, it has nicely integrated alcohol (despite being listed as 15.5%) as well as beautifully woven tannins. Impressively layered in the middle and very long on the finish, it is simply stunning wine! With a few more years of cellaring it should get even better, then last for a couple of decades thereafter. Drink 2019-2040.
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Big, bold, powerful, packed, full bodied and dense, this wine is stuffed with licorice, jammy blackberries, smoke and vanilla. This is not for timid wine tasters with all its layers of ripe and over ripe fruits. The finish really packs a punch.
3/24/2024 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened and let breather for about 45 minutes. Needed about an hour and a half to really open. . Soft blue fruit bit not the power of my last bottle of HSS. Medium finish.
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2/3/2024 - cab blends Likes this wine: 98 Points
S&E Napa Extravaganza (at Home): NOT BLIND
98/97
Decanted for 3 hours.
Dark red and looked far younger than its age. Beautiful ight fruit and wood bark on the nose.
Definitely seems to be in a great spot and the decanting time was perfect. The heat that accompanies Hillside when young was gone and this was rounded.
Still good fruit - red and blue fruits.
HL 2 FD 3 Fin 4
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1/27/2024 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 94 Points
Drinking well - 2 hour decant - don’t think holding will make it better
Muted berry notes more dried than fresh with some tobacco / structure and mouthfeel
Still really good
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11/13/2023 - birdeaux Likes this wine: 98 Points
Allowing this 8 hours to decant seemed pretty ideal, though it kept its structure overnight, too.
Fabulous wine and “meant to be” pairing with A5 Ribeye with crispy onions & pomegranate pepper sauce.
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10/8/2023 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Didn't have open very long before opening. Closed off and needed about 2 hours to breathe.
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5/15/2023 - Canuper wrote: 100 Points
I have had several 100 point wines over the years that usually don't reach that level for me. This one did- absolute perfection in every way.
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5/6/2023 - The Andrews wrote: 94 Points
2 hour decant and it needed it. Quite primary on the palate with a beautiful nose, dark red fruits, blackberry, cloves. Tight on the palate but started to open up after 3 hours. Nose was really singing after 3 hours, but again a bit monolithic so this needs time. Can use at least a couple more years or more to resolve, maybe 5+ depending on the decant. High potential for us, and the last glass was the best.
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2/23/2023 - Alexander Smith Likes this wine: 96 Points
Premiere Napa Valley; 2/22/2023-3/25/2023 (Napa, California): This is developing rather well, cassis, dark plum, blackcurrant, dark velvety chocolate, pencil shavings, firm and dusty tannins with a long and velvety finish.
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1/11/2023 - wmccone54 wrote: 97 Points
At twelve years this is in a great place and ready to drink. Displays a deep purple color, and full body. Elegant, exquisite, and classy. Deep, rich, and complex aromas and flavors of ripe black fruits, cigar box, soft leather, creamy chocolate, and loamy black dirt. Perfect balance: tannin, oak, and acid are all in harmony. Big, satisfying finish. Wonderful accompaniment to the grilled ribeye served to friends. Good vintages and bad, this wine is always consistent. Drink through 2040+.
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1/7/2023 - D3S Likes this wine: 99 Points
Outstanding wine!
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12/1/2022 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Smooth, long finish, perfect acidity, flavors of black fruit with mild earth tones. Drinking very well now and over the next 3 - 5 years.
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11/22/2022 - Hercules Likes this wine: 100 Points
Possibly the best wine we have had. Amazing richness and body. Simply delicious!
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11/9/2022 - Quinn05 wrote: 96 Points
Hundred Acre wine tasting: Blind. Wow, what a difference 5 years can make. Compared to the 2005, I can safely conclude this is absolutely not ready. Wait 7 more years (because this one I think will need a little more time). And while you're waiting, if you're craving a SHS, crack open a bottle of 2005. That will surely provide you with much more pleasure.
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12/10/2021 - bambam Likes this wine: 95 Points
From magnum, It is holding up much better than I anticipated last time I had it 4 years ago. Dark color and strong blueberry compote with prominent oak. Drink or hold.
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10/11/2021 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Opened by AllRed. Decanted 6 hours before we paired it with ribeye steaks. Big and still very tight on the first day. More open on day two. Tar, blackberry and pencil lead notes. 92+ points.
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10/9/2021 - AllRed wrote: 98 Points
Decanted about 6 hours. Dark inky color. Notes of lavender, cassis, chocolate and currants. Firm but fine and sweet tannins. Abundant black fruit. Balanced. The following morning this was much more open on the palate. Added notes of tar and violet. Seamless on the palate. A stunning HSS in the making but needs an extended decant right now.
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10/1/2021 - canan wrote: 95 Points
US BYO (Esmee): Great vintage for this with a huge potential to be among the best HSS wines.
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8/22/2021 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 hr decant, this also needed to come to room temp to develop its finish. Pours like it was bottled last month, deep purple color w/dark berries, tobacco and alcohol on the nose and nice grip on the stem.
While this was extremely dry and dusty out of the cellar, there’s plenty of blackberry and black cherry above the tar, crushed stone and coffee as it comes to temp. Finish is front palate and shorter than I’d like, with only a hint of the alcohol found on the nose.
Solid for a 2010, this continues to lose depth and finish, so I’m glad I didn’t wait to pop our final bottle. This was better from Somm stems than std stems if you’ve got the option.
While I opened this as motivation to act on my HSS offering, I continue to question the price point and generally continue to purchase - though less than I used to - only for sentimentality.
While different stylistically, Quilceda has all stuffing, finesse, ability to age (and cachet for those who care) for less than half what HSS charges today.
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6/4/2021 - Gregmonroe Likes this wine:
Friday Wine Group - JL (Blind Lunch): Tasted blind - deep, dark crimson in the glass, nose of blue fruit. No bricking. Well integrated tannins and fruit, was not a fruit bomb, nor an overly tannic wine, especially compared to the Dominus right before it. Lots of red and blue fruits on the palate. I called a new world syrah.
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4/25/2021 - mactheknife Likes this wine: 96 Points
I decanted for 2 hours and put back in bottle for transport to restaurant. You can say what you want, but Hillside in a glass is as beautiful as it gets! Perfect balance; I think this a wine now transitioning from fruit to secondary notes. There is restraint on both sides. Great enjoyment. Much to come.
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3/20/2021 - MD.Gibson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rather disappointing. Lacked any significant tannins and a short finish. Nose was rather muted and profile soft without any strong taste profiles. This was the 2nd 2010 and seems to be falling off rather than the deep resonating taste that I have become accustom to with Shafer.
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3/13/2021 - Jbird73 Likes this wine: 96 Points
The color, the nose, the finish....this is just outstanding. Would have been happy just smelling this wine in the glass all night. Of course, did more than just that and just a really fantastic bottle all of wine. So much life in the bottle right now there is zero hurry to consume. Got better and better as the 2 hours passed that we enjoyed it.
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11/30/2020 - AaronMaxwell Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great Thanksgiving wine! Slow oxxed a magnum overnight. Was drinking very well the next day.
Big, well structured, and typical of Napa cabs.
Dark berries, gentle leather, and nice currants and baking spices.
Drink now or for the next 20 years.
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9/4/2020 - NIN Does not like this wine:
Not as good.
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8/1/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
Densely packed and still took awhile to come around despite a 2 hour slow-ox. I believe the best days are still to come for this wine and if drinking now would give a vigorous 4-5 hour decant.
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5/19/2020 - GiWineDoc Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovely blue fruits. Long finish. Still seems a notch below the best Napa cabs I’ve had. Don’t see it’s 100-point rating. It’s great but not outstanding
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5/15/2020 - NapaCabernet Likes this wine: 95 Points
High expectations on this of course. Decant of about 45min, then back to bottle.
Wonderful nose with lots of violets, some lavender and a little bit of liquorice. Full bodied and elegant mouth feel. Powerful finish with good length. Really good structure. Palate was not overly fruity nor very dense. Just that was the point I missed a little for a wine with this reputation and price: a bit more fruit and density in the palate. But my personal opinion.
Still, very good. Not sure about improvement but it has for sure 5-10 more years to go.
95p.
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5/7/2020 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 94 Points
First third of the bottle was out of sommelier stems, which gave the wine a slightly BRIEFR but more polished finish than regular stems.
Nearly 2 hours later we are back on the standard stems; these notes are from then.
Dark rich fruit on the nose, little vanilla, glycerin black pepper and alcohol. Well balanced on the palate; still gobs of fruit - to a shocking degree for a 2010 - with a elegant, polished finish.
Finish lasts for 20+ seconds. This is still good for several more years and is an outstanding wine from the vintage. Arguably it’s even a better QPR vs recent vintages when they’ve jacked the price up to 325 a bottle.
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5/7/2020 - mlawren1 wrote: 95 Points
Wow, cherries, currants and raspberries just drip out of the glass amazing wine.
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4/18/2020 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I drank this too early (if there is such a thing). Aromas and flavors were good (not great - expected a little more). Tannins were settled and acidity was perfect (thus 94 points). This paired perfect with the Allen Bros ribeye that I grilled tonight. This wine would work with a lighter tasting meat...it is enjoyable.
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4/9/2020 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 97 Points
Inky purple with blackberry and cassis on the nose, the 2016 Shafer Hillside select is very much in its youth. Could not resist trying to see where it stands at a decade of age. The tannins are still a bit grippy but complemented by generous acidity and a load of black fruit. Impeccably balanced as always but another decade is needed before I crack another.
These wines are aged in new French oak for a surprisingly long time (32 months) but you never get the sense that the HS is over-oaked, even in their youth.
The Hillside wines have long been favorites of mine and are always one of the best values of elite California Cabernet (coupled with Pride Reserve wines). If you haven't tried them, you should; like great Bordeaux, they last forever. Cheers.
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4/8/2020 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 96 Points
First impression out of the bottle. This is still quite young... I had read some advice on here to not decant, so I didn't... and it's definitely a bit hot and austere on the finish. Very nice wine, I can't tell if it just needs more time in the bottle or a bit more air to open up.
After 2 hours. Better, but still not 100% there. There are better Napa Cabs out there for $350++/bottle in my opinion. Maybe in 5 years it’s value will present itself more than it does today. Again, still very good, just not $400 good.
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3/9/2020 - jmprusko Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wines for the Apocalypse, pre-quarrantine
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2/14/2020 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 96 Points
Pop and pour; the first half of the bottle was out of the decanter and followed over 1h45. Cork barely showed any age though the wine was definitely lighter around the edges.
Aroma was more concentrated from standard cab stems than the Somms, which gave a weaker nose and much shorter finish. Dust and must on the nose, along w watery blackberry, red plum, aged cedar and a hint of anise.
While the wine seems to be fruit-dominant, this quickly shows a heavy coating of dust that lingers over the mid-to-back palate, revealing layers of depth and complexity beyond the more prominent black cherry. We caught tobacco, chocolate, and even cola late into its 40+ second finish.
Drinking the remaining portion out of the bottle, the fruit was brighter and more ripe than from the decanter; it easily seemed to be 5 years younger than the decanted wine, while losing no sense of elegance.
Really impressive from a challenging year. I won’t decant my remaining 2 bottles, which can last another 3-6 years, but I’d personally drink within 1-3.
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2/2/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Small glass, brief note. rich start that I liked a lot. Very dense and concentrated, while able to retain a good sense of balance. Less exciting in the middle, not quite hollow, but not quite complete. Good length, but more ripe/ warm than I'd prefer on finish.
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12/25/2019 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 100 Points
Kleur: Diep ondoordringbar donkerrood. Aroma / bouquet: Een indrukwekkende explosie van aroma's, zeer typerend voor een hoge Napa Cabernet, verfijnd hout, geconfijte kers, zwarte bessen compote, zachte zoete drop, menthol. Smaak / Afdronk: Wow. Ultieme power in een ultieme harmonie, kenmerkend voor Hillside Select. Frisse start, krachtige tannines, mooi gerijpt, serieus alcoholpercentage dat echter wat mij betreft perfect harmonieert met de indrukwekkende vulling. Retronasale indrukken van kers, bessen, menthol en zacht zoete drop. Indrukwekkend lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Robert Parker beoordeelde deze wijn met 100 punten. Ik sluit daar graag bij aan. Briljante wijn van één van de meest consistente kwaliteits-wijnmakers van Napa Vally maar, in verhouding tot 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Smaak / Afdronk: 20 + Algemeen / potentieel: 10 = 100/100
Google Translate:
Color: Deeply impenetrable dark red. Aroma / bouquet: An impressive explosion of aromas, very typical of a high Napa Cabernet, refined wood, candied cherry, black currant compote, soft sweet drop menthol. Taste / Aftertaste: Wow. Ultimate power in an ultimate harmony, characteristic of Hillside Select. Fresh start, powerful tannins, nicely aged, serious alcohol percentage that, in my opinion, perfectly harmonizes with the impressive filling. Retronasal impressions of cherry, berries, menthol and soft sweet licorice. Impressively long finish. General / potential: Robert Parker rated this wine with 100 points. I am happy to agree with that. Brilliant wine from one of the most consistent winemakers from Napa Vally but, in relation to 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Taste / Finish: 20 + General / potential: 10 = 100/100
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10/22/2019 - mattiasjansson wrote: 94 Points
Shafer Hillside Select in Boston - Take II (Boston): This is a baby! Huge fruit. Typical cali cab. Just a very good one.
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8/27/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 Points
Massive, powerful, concentrated and loaded to the top with layers of ripe, dark berries, jam, smoke, espresso, vanilla and licorice. Still primary, it is not ready for prime time drinking yet, as everything still needs to come together.
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4/21/2019 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
PDQ 94+
Big shoulders with good balance. Balance of acid, tannins, and fruit is even with good integrations.
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2/23/2019 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 95 Points
While not the powerhouse 100 point rating I was expecting; however, this wine is still in a very young phase (only 9 years old) and it was only open for an hour before consumption. I'll definitely wait another 2-3 years before popping the next bottle. Definitely some ripeness on the pallete before some of the layers of dark black and blue fruit kicked in. Some tobacco and vanilla started to develop. Mild/medium finish.
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12/28/2018 - Soujek Likes this wine: 96 Points
drank over 4 hours, huge jammy cab with chocolate, tobacco, leather coming out over time. great balance, drinking very well now
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12/17/2018 - brasstab wrote: 95 Points
Lived up to the hype. Large and in charge. Classic Napa, but with a tannic structure and inviting acidity all its own. Rounded out over the course of two hours. Gone too soon.
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12/8/2018 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Excellent, rich, dark chocolate, ripe black fruits, big and powerful. Opened 2 days. Brian
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9/13/2018 - Markus IWC wrote: 87 Points
California BYOB #14: dark red. Berries, chocolate, oak and hints of coffee. Intense and concentrated mouthfeel with dark cherries, chocolate, coffee and loads of new oak. 1 BV. Interesting that the 12 got 7 best votes and the 10 only 1. Very similar wines to me.
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7/22/2018 - Cailles wrote: 93 Points
Not open for business yet. Decanted for four hours but that wasn‘t nearly enough. Opened-up a bit further with three hours in the glass. Closed, muted nose only revealing hints of cassis, violets and some dried herbs. Same thing on the palate. Textbook Napa Cab aromas, high complexity seem there but you get just the idea of the great wine it will be one day. Good structural frame with round tannins, a fresh acidity and a great balance. Certainly on the more elegant, bordeauxesque side of Napa, not trying to score with overwhelming opulence. I’ve made the same experience with a bottle I opened myself two months ago. So don‘t drink it yet. In case you can‘t resist, give it at least a 7 hours decant (and then better only drink it the next day).
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7/3/2018 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 95 Points
While I’ve always been a big HSS fan (it was our wedding wine nearly 22 years ago) this was not as good as I recall from my last bottle 2 yrs ago. Aired from bottle for an hour, then a hour in the decanter, then followed over 2.5 hrs.
Muted nose of dark coffee and mocha with spice box. Medium-light mouthfeel; there’s some weight and structure to the wine but the finish is fairly brief at 10-15 seconds. Tastes more old world than typical for a HSS; Nothing really wrong with the wine other than the finish is not as rich or layered as I typically expect. Imagine this is bottle variation based on other notes and prior experience.
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5/28/2018 - LR Wine Guy wrote:
Shea center
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5/27/2018 - jonanator wrote: 94 Points
From mag. Give this a long decant and you will be in for a true. Power and grace all at the same time. Undeniably Napa, rich and powerful, yet it doesn't come close to feeling overdone. Monumental effort. Still plenty of upside. Will try to stay away for a few more years. 94++
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5/18/2018 - Vince92673 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brought to high end steakhouse and had it opened right away but it needs way more time to open than a restaurant dinner allows. By evening’s end we were really enjoying the end of the bottle but felt like we’d squandered the first 3/4’s. Dark fruits and plum favors abound - chewy and more massive structure than the typical silkiness found in a Hillside Select.
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5/6/2018 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
This wine needed three hours in the decanter to open up a bit but it never showed its true colors that night. However, the components for greatness are there. But the wine is currently in a rather sleepy phase. If you pop a bottle today decant it for at least 6h and you will get a Napa power house which remains on the elegant side of what Napa Valley can deliver.
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12/10/2017 - dccc wrote: 100 Points
Since all the reviews are in the high 90’s but as yet no one agreed with Robert Parker that it deserves the perfect score I’m going to rate it 100 points. This is the first 2010 Hillside we’ve tasted and I’ll be saving the other 5 for later, probably drink the next one December, 2018. It needs a little more time.
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11/25/2017 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Only had a very small poor and this is a drop-dead gorgeous wine. In a great place right now and for years to come. Drink now with a 2 hour or more decant or lay down in the cellar for a few more years.
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10/1/2017 - rpenn77 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Luscious dark fruit. Big mouthfeel. Wonderfully bright Cab.
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9/30/2017 - Teknsteel Likes this wine: 96 Points
Opaque. Crème de cassis and a sweet toasty note on the nose. Add baking spices and pencil shavings on the palate. A hedonistic wine no doubt, but structured and fresh all the same. Left me feel privileged.
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9/27/2017 - bambam Likes this wine: 97 Points
Exceptionally smooth and well balanced. Blueberry, vanilla, some cedar. Drinking well now. I don't think this will be the longest living HSS but entering its drinking window now.
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8/26/2017 - pgrzesik Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wow, what an amazing bottle of wine! Pop and pour - drank over the course of 2 hours.
This wine has an incredible nose, predominately with dark fruit, some hints of vanilla, and touches of cigar box, tobacco, and even pink roses.
On the palate this wine is just so elegant - still mighty tannins for a seven year old wine at this point, and then layers of richness with a long finish. The alcohol (15.5%) is almost not noticeable with how complex and well put together this wine is. You take one sip of this and it just leaves you wondering "wow!"
Wish I could cherish the experience over and over. After drinking this wine - I felt empowered, energized, and ready to tackle the world. It is that good and only getting better. Drinking absolutely perfect now and will do so for many more years to come!
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7/25/2017 - Dan & Patti wrote: 97 Points
Still with medium tannins. An outstanding bottle of wine with cigarbox dark fruit and earth
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6/16/2017 - Zweder wrote: 97 Points
Beautiful bouquet with smoke, cassis and beautifully dosed oak. Same on the palate. Black berries, lead pencil, full bodied and powerful, but also round and elegant wine. Extremely good wine with a lot of future.
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6/16/2017 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Single blind. Deep inky opaque color. Cassis, black currant, vanilla, maybe some dill (?- something herbal along that line), with floral undertones. Fine tannin with flavors of black fruit and a long finish. Lavender and redwood forest notes emerge with vigorous swirling. On the palate there's an abundance of black fruit- cassis, currant and black cherry- to go along with the incredibly fine, well-knit tannins. For as big and structured as this wine is, it's neither clumsy nor heavy- it's impeccably balanced. Finish lasts well over a minute. Easy to pick out as our HSS, but a few tasters didn't pick this out as cabernet, though everyone loved it calling it "rich," "wonderful" and "balanced." 94-95 pts.
This had been decanted for 6.5 hours then allowed to breathe in bottle for another 2. The tasting was not officially an "uptown" but (a) the host said there would be good wines, (b) we had this standing as an option for R&D's anniversary the week before, (c) one of the tasters in this group is a friend of the Shafer family, and (d) we had seven bottles, so bringing this was essentially a no-brainer. Drink from 2020+.
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1/27/2017 - jonanator wrote:
Way way way too young. Needs a lot of time. Promising though. Wait 5+ years.
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12/20/2016 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 97 Points
This was the best on day 3 by far. Loads of blueberry, vanilla extract, and french oak barrels. Really spectacular. Needs time to show best.
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9/16/2016 - fisk15 wrote: 94 Points
A bit of seepage under the foil, has been stored properly since purchase from retail source. Big and rich, goes on for days can stand up to healthy decanting easily. I wouldn't say this has perfect balance and perhaps it never will, but I enjoyed it for what it is.
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7/4/2016 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 98 Points
Dense dark red. Absolutely loaded with baking spice , cedar, and tobacco on the nose. Racy, mineral laden, black currents, black cherry, and the fruit softens the effect of the tannins . No heat, all of these elements are in perfect balance. With additional air time it did pick some blueberry cobbler flavors. This finishes with tart and tannic blackberry compote that goes on for minutes.
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7/4/2016 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Explosive nose. Vanilla, cocoa, baking spices. Black raspberry, blackberry. Tobacco, cassis, earth. Just incredible. Still tannic but a finish that goes on forever.
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5/29/2016 - AdamGoldston Likes this wine: 95 Points
5 hour decant and re corked for the restaurant. Perfectly balanced with fruit and tannin.
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5/22/2016 - davidandrose Likes this wine: 95 Points
Decanted for 3 hours and followed over 3. Heady blue and blackberry aromas as the wine pours into the decanter. Pencil lead, cigar and toasted barrel on the nose, with a hint of black pepper. Tastes a little strong of alcohol, but is otherwise an impressively smooth and well-balanced. Blue and blackberry are joined by black plum, more pencil lead, and vanilla-flavored tobacco. Decant time served the wine very well. A solid HSS and an impressive 2010.
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2/14/2016 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Had this next to two other 100pt RP wines - '12 Schrader CCS and '13 Maybach Materium. This came in #3 by a wide margin for all of us. It's a great wine, but was a level below the other two on this night.
Decanted for 8 hours before consuming. Nice forest floor, pencil shavings and blueberry notes on the nose. The texture is fantastic, delivering blueberries in a silky manner onto the pallet. A dense and concentrated wine, but there is some bitterness on the mid pallet and finish that was very obvious when comparing it to the Maybach and Schrader. It seems to need a lot more age before it is really ready to show what in can do. Certainly a lot of upside in the future.
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1/1/2016 - msuwine wrote: 96 Points
A glorious modern red that provides incredible power in an integrated fashion. Near black in color, full in body, warm nose of chocolate, cherry, and pencil. Explosive, deep, and bright tastes of blackberry, blueberry, mocha, granite, and cedar, with a silky finish that goes on and on. 15.5% alcohol (more than I would have guessed). A powerful wine, to be sure, but few wines provide such intensity with such class. I'm sure the patient will be rewarded, but I am not one of them: decant it 1-2 hours, and this wine is magnificent right now.
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12/30/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 98 Points
We popped and poured this. This needs at least 3-6 hours to be its best. Like most Shafer HSS the alcohol is somewhat pronounced upon opening. This was outstanding even after just 30min in the glass. Huge extracted blueberry pie a la mode on the nose as well as throughout the experience. Very very dark, rich, full bodied, silky, and teeth staining. This bottle showed very well tonight. see previous notes
This was amazingly close to the 1991 Shafer HSS with such a powerful Blueberry dominance.
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12/22/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 95 Points
This bottle was closed and very tight upon opening. It was consumed in a large group so it never had any time to open what so ever. More closed than the other 2010 HSS I have had. This is a tremendous wine. See previous notes
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12/19/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 99 Points
Lots of great wines with friends; 12/19/2015-12/20/2015 (E, 4th St.): OMG. Wow. What can you say. This was popped and allowed to breathe for about 1.5 hours. It needed at least 10 IMO and would have probably merited a higher score. Inky purple in color. The nose is amazing. Cassis, pencil lead, slight floral notes, coffee and cedar. Amazing velvety texture. Pinpoint balance. Delicious and deep. Tightly layered as it unwinds in the glass. Juicy black currant and blueberry fruit. Slight coffee. Long finish. Decades left, but I would wait at least a few more years before opening.
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12/18/2015 - KenK Likes this wine: 95 Points
A wow wine, but almost too much of a good thing currently. Big ripe sweet lush dense broad red cherry and blueberry fruits dominate, quite sweet and bombastic while amazing also very one dimensional today. Lost out in blind tasting to 2012 Schrader RBS which was more subtle and every bit as delicious. Won't open another HSS '10 for long time.
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11/2/2015 - nywine68 wrote:
First day it felt a bit hot but after 1 day without vacuvin was much better. Very dense and extracted but with good balance and beautiful fruit. Typical California cab but very well executed
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10/29/2015 - bjamesclark wrote: 93 Points
100% Cabernet Sauvignon- 32 months in 100% new French oak.
Rich and opulent. Huge aromas of vanilla cream, cassis, cherry cordial, chocolate ganache along with herbs, cedar and graphite.
Decadent and rich on the palate with currant, cherry, cassis and plum with notes of herbs, chocolate, pencil shavings, cigar and earth. Long and plush on the finish letting the silky tannins unfold.
This wine needs at least another 5 years in bottle to hit its stride.
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10/14/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine: 97 Points
Drank at Auberge Du Soliel in Napa Valley. Drank along side a 2002 and it was simply stunning. Perhaps better than the 2002. Deep, dark, rich, fatty, loads of blueberry, coffee, cola, vanilla. Smooth and seamless. What a wine!
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8/16/2015 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle got a quick 30 min decanted and was initially rich dense and packed with ripe dark red creamy fruits, but the tannin and acid structure quickly took over in the glass tonight and this thing shutdown very hard. Huge potential, but I will not open one for at least a couple of years, although maybe a very long decant would help. Bottle should have a tag "Closed For Business, went fishing"
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7/30/2015 - Omadobs wrote: 97 Points
Kenk's review is spot-on...if jjaffee can wait until 2024, he's faaaharrrr more patient than I'll ever be...and as for Qourt, we need to talk! Seriously, I'd be happy to buy any remaining bottles you have at $1...maybe 2/point! Absent of that, I respect provocateurs with 75-point rating scales.
This is seriously mind-blowing juice, the kind of wine that makes Napa-centric snobs like my idiot brother almost seem reasonable. Am excited to go back to a local eatery offering this for $100 less than the going retail tariff.
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7/22/2015 - KenK Likes this wine: 97 Points
Big momma. Dense lush creamy sweet intense dark rich chocolate cherry flavors in super concentrated powerful style. Very nicely done, but almost over the top. Amazing it's five years since vintage and tastes like a barrel sample, purity of fruit cannot be denied and well balanced with soft set tannins and finshes with a friendly well hidden acidic brightness that goes on and on. Highly drinkable with a perfectly done medium rare 3" thick Flannery ribeye. I will not open another for at least a few years unless my headonisic cravings surface.
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7/20/2015 - jjaffee wrote:
100 Parker, Hold until 2024-60
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7/5/2015 - Pcrage wrote: 97 Points
Way to young but oh so very lovely nonetheless. Great fruit profile and remarkable balance so early in its life. After several years cellared this should really shine. Could be a 100 pointer someday.
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6/30/2015 - qourtofsommelier wrote: 76 Points
The wine has low acidity. It smells like black currant (cassis). The wine finishes short. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The wine has smooth texture.
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5/20/2015 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Fireworks. This is a delicious, in your face (at this point) seamless Cabernet. Full of berries both dark and crunchy. Lots of stuff going on in the glass but there is some very young oak in the form of vanilla that needs to settle down. Wow wine even at this stage.
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5/16/2015 - steveadelfio wrote:
good but expected much more for price
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3/11/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 96 Points
Cherries and dark berries, tobacco, spices on the nose. Great depth and richness, but not jammy at all. Very youthful on the palate with powerful, round but drying tannins, revealing ripe, pure fruit. There is lots of acidity, too. The wine is impeccably well balanced already. Spicy and mineral towards the persistent and intense finish. This needs lots of time but will be superb. 95-96+(+)
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3/6/2015 - jda8600 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Formal tasting at the winery; opaque dark purple color consistent with HSS with violet and dark fruit aromatics. Not as expressive or vibrant on initial palate as one might expect from a RMP 100 point wine, but depth of blue and dark fruit well delineated with the HSS volcanic soil characteristics mid palate of gravel & dusty rock, which petrude into the fruit a bit at this stage.
Wonderful structure with perfect balance of acidity and slightly elevated tannins creating a smooth, classic wine, which can be approachable now, but wil reward those who wait as quality fruit will yield a longer finish. This should be a typical HSS in longevity with optimal drinking window lasting up to 10-12 years before a slight dropoff occurs due to brix level of 24-26% at harvest. That's not to say it won't be enjoyable past 12 years.
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2/28/2015 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine:
Limited notes. So deep and complex nose, the elements are perfectly balanced. This is a massive, packed wine but still no heavýness despite a 15,5% alcohol level, a sheer treat. Can't score but it would end up in the very highest end.
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2/28/2015 - Zweder Likes this wine: 98 Points
A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Just a few notes during an extensive tasting, but this is a truly great and concentrated wine. Loaded with cassis and other dark forest fruits, beautiful oak, great acidity and beautiful but firm tannin with great potential. Still much too young. In due time this might be a wine which deserves the perfect score and even outclasses the so beautiful 2002. Really hope to taste this wine again around 2025 or at any moment from now! Superb wine! 98++ for now.
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2/8/2015 - Stevey wrote: 93 Points
Complex wine. Blackcurrant, excellent structure. Tannins dominate the palate beginning to end; to me this wine is closed and the 93 rating is based on the wine at this stage. I'd keep this deep in the cellar and let sleep for 7-10 more years.
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12/26/2014 - RJurman Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! This wine was truly spectacular even at this stage. It is young, and a bit tannic but I can't see this wine getting any better. Unfortunately, it did not last long enough to truly evaluate it over time, but I have three more and will not go near them for a least a few years.
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12/1/2014 - djlevin Likes this wine: 95 Points
Shafer Vineyards Wine Tasting and Visit (Napa Valley, CA): By far, this was the most enjoyable wine of the 2014 releases. I wonder where the 2011 vintage will take them? Very fruity plum on the nose with a touch of tobacco and menthol. A blackberry and plum fruit-forward palate with a very long, luxurious dark chocolate finish. Beautifully balanced with soft tannins and a nice acidic backbone. The wine was soft, but not particularly vibrant in the mouth. A very refined style. An excellent Napa Cabernet, but at $250/btl retail, difficult to justify the price.
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11/26/2014 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just couldn't help myself in opening one. I know it is a mere baby and needs a bunch of time but its so fun to drink. Loads of fruit, loads of tannins and really loads of everything. Can't wait to try this again in about 10 years.
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11/21/2014 - pauljr1121 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Tasted at the winery. The tasting went from cool to memorable when Jon Shafer popped in. Cassis, licorice, earthy notes and spice. Clearly youthful but so nice. So plush now but with so much more to give. Scooped up two. I need to wait at least a few years for the first one and maybe ten for the other.
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11/2/2014 - yofog wrote:
An attack on the palate with its piles of coarsely packed overripe and baked, clumsy fruit and overwrought tannin.
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10/27/2014 - mdmcgonigal wrote: 94 Points
Winery tasting. Very complex nose for a young wine: cherries, blackberries, leather. Complex flavors with those and currants and spice. Wonderful lingering finish.
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10/17/2014 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 98 Points
2014 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/14/2014-10/21/2014 (New York City, NY): Opaque crimson in color, this wine is heavily-extracted yet perfectly balanced. It is arguably the best Napa Cabernet of the 2010 vintage. Opulent on the nose and palate, it delivers black currants, bramble fruits, licorice, fig and Asian spices. Full-bodied and with low-to-medium acidity, it has nicely integrated alcohol (despite being listed as 15.5%) as well as beautifully woven tannins. Impressively layered in the middle and very long on the finish, it is simply stunning wine! With a few more years of cellaring it should get even better, then last for a couple of decades thereafter. Drink 2019-2040.
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10/2/2014 - JavierE Likes this wine: 96 Points
Spectacular!! Excellent wine!! Very elegant and smooth but with full body and complexity! Will get even better with time!
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11/16/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Big, bold, powerful, packed, full bodied and dense, this wine is stuffed with licorice, jammy blackberries, smoke and vanilla. This is not for timid wine tasters with all its layers of ripe and over ripe fruits. The finish really packs a punch.
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