This is still going strong. Good mix of red/blue fruit. Nose was somewhat dim, but the finish strong. Excellent value for the $55 I paid for it a few years ago.
PnP - this bottle showed much better than the one we opened over christmas. Fruit profile is dark (blackberry and blueberry), but there is balance here, some dusty tannins still a bit of earth and leather. Don't think this will improve - drink up with next 3-5 years.
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12 Days of Christmas - 2018; 12/21/2018-1/1/2019 (NYC, Vermont, Lake Placid): Color is very dark leaning to purple. The nose is blueberry and earth. Oh this is pretty extracted even with 10 years in bottle, blueberry , some heat from the alcohol, tannins have smoothed - not enough acid, some earth. Not my style but others enjoyed.
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Dark purplish ruby red. Needed a little bit of time to open up with some notes of anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark berries, cassis and light plums. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and medium to medium plus body. Dark and juicy palate with dark berries, baking spices and dark cocoa. Medium plus length finish. Drink now.
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Sampled in single-blind fashion at a Napa Cabernet brown-bag tasting, this opaque crimson wine showed very well. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, it is a full-bodied, ripe, low-acid bruiser. Black and red currants, cherries, smoked meat, dried herbs and dark chocolate are supported by big sweet tannins. Despite being listed as 15.1%, the wine's alcohol stays in check. Layered and dense on the mid-palate, it finishes with a spice-laden, medium-length finish. This sultry Cab should hold up well for another decade or more. Drink now-2027.
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Had this as part of a 2008 Cabernet tasting, with 7 other members of my wine group. Not the WOTN, although a few liked it best and it was enjoyed by everyone. Very fruit driven, and not much tannic grip. So it felt a little "flabby", at this point, it might be better as a sipping wine, as opposed to having it with a steakhouse meal.
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Quite chunky, but showing really well right now for a tough vintage. Enough acid there to hold up for a fatty prime rib, but I wouldn't hold this much longer. Drink now.
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Dark ruby, better serve at temperature low enough to hide alcohol. Typical Napa kind with juicy, sweet and full body. Lot of residues that should be stood up for a couple of days prior to uncork and handle with care.
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Tasted the Pichon Lalande 2003 alongside the Shafter One Point Five from 2008 and Cakebread 2009. The Pichon was more fragrant with more finesse, the Shafer more powerful and fruit forward and the Cakebread somewhere in between. People voted in different ways with the overall view that "all three were equally lovely but different"
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Very good Napa Cab. PnP. Full bodied. Smooth. Good fruit but not overripe. Had similar characteristics as the 2009 Shafer Hillside Select that was also consumed.
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Dinner at Bistro Le Steak. Popped and poured. The 2nd wine we opened, the first being a 2010 Larkmead Firebelle.
The wine seemed a little flat, I'm a big fan of the One Point Five wines, but I'm wondering if its in or just past its prime drinking window. I will be opening up another 2008 later this month, it will be interesting to see how that bottle tastes. I have older and younger vintages of this wine in the past 12 months, and this was the least impressive bottle I've had.
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Stag's Leap tasting at Pine Ridge during PNV week...
Big wine, as expected from Shafer. Dark fruits, cedar, camphor, slight pruniness. Sulky tannins and integrated oak. Not sure how long this had been open, I suspect it needs a couple hours in a decanter to really show, hard to rate based on this tasting but definitely a lot going on
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Rich blackberry aromas. Silky and suave palate texture. 15.1% ABV. Rich with more silk than spice. Easy level of concentration on the palate, not to wildly overdone on the palate.
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More classical Napa Cabernet than my last bottle. Everything is on the extreme side. Very rich dark fruits, strong but will integrated tannins and a lots of alcohol (15%). However, a very classy wine that softened for the better after a couple of hours in the decanter. At first I thought this was a wine to drink with food but I ended up drinking most of it without food and very much enjoyed it. Would expect it to last another 10 years.
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This wine is in prime-time drinking window now. Excellent balance of fruit and structure. Oak and tannins are really well integrated. In my opinion this is really in its sweet spot and will remain for another 1-2 years.
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wow! Explosive nose of super ripe cassis, very black, cedar, sandalwood, nice integrated vanilla, camphor... taste of black ripe cherries, super silky tannins, beautiful 45 seconds finish, nice refreshing acidity, I love this wine that is perfect to drink young!
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Firm, with a lot of backbone - so tightly knit. I hesitate to say tannic - the tannins are there but this is more unformed vs. just tannic. This is quite stately, some slight pruniness and some led pencil, not the most open or friendly of wines perhaps, but there is a lot of quality there; it really needs another five years to show it though.
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I liked this much better than the 2007 One Point Five I had the other night because it showed more black fruit and had a longer finish. Really showing well right now.
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I really liked this wine but it confused me. I have been a fan of Shafer's Cabs for many years. Had I not known what this wine was, I would have thought it a Shiraz, with notes of blueberry, vanilla, peppers dominating. The alcohol - 15% - comes through but it is a lovely, harmonious wine with a lovely soft texture and a lengthy finish. Maybe it's just been a long week and I need to open another bottle tomorrow evening! Lovely but perplexing wine!
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Very dark purple. Blackberries, cassis and tobacco on the nose. Rich and opulent with a healthy dose of tannins that will ensure a long life. Nice length. Great now with further potential for 10+ years.
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took to Italian restaurant and ate with Bolognese; hard to beat the combination. Rich but balanced; fruit is there in spades but settled in beautifully. Lots more life to this one.
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Clear, deep purple. Had an pronounced intensity on the nose of dark fruit blackcurrant/ blackberry/ ripe but not cooked/ peppery spice/ vanilla, still developing.
Was dry on the palate with med plus acidity and fine high tannins, high alcohol, full bodied, pronounced intensity, more dark fruit, green pepper, graphite, nice long finish
Enjoyed this very much from a 375ml could definitely develop further but had nice fruit forward ness and fine tannin to make it pleasurable now
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Garnet, inky colored with an almost black core. Very dense and vital! Aromatics of Ripe Dark Fruit and Berries. Stewed Fruit. Beautiful Floral traces (Roses and Lilac) with Fresh Eucalypt and Herbs. Sweet Vanilla, Tar, Dark Chocolate and Tobacco. Little traces of Smoke. Decent Spiciness. Complex, attractive, intense and inviting aromatics! Powerful Flavors of Dark Fruit; Blue and Black Berries, Cherries and little Plum. Some Herbal Spiciness. Hints of Lilac and Violets. Earthy characteristics. Soft and warm mouthfeel. Perfectly round tannins and refreshing acidity. Finishes soft, warm and very long with a ton of Dark Fruit (Black Cherry!), Soft Tannins and Decent Peppery Spiciness. Greatly structured, multi-layered and delicious!
Intense and ripe, but harmonious, balanced and round wine! It is still very young, but already very drinkable with beautiful finesse, complexity and drive. This should evolve for another 10 to 20 years easily. See more details at cellartv.wordpress.com
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We popped and let sit in the glass for a half hour. Dark ruby in color, nose of dark crushed fruit and peppers, the palate was rich with blueberry, green peppers, coffee and tobacco, a smooth enjoyable finish
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Two hour decant. Strong alcohol on the nose, with wood and a hint of green peppers. Lucious body, with still harsh tannins on the long finish. I would advise waiting a couple more years more.
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Very Smooth The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Blackberry. It tastes like and Oak. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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One of my favorites. Consistent year after year. The Stag's Leap fruit always seems to shine and show its smoothness, creaminess, silkiness, and approachability. Sweet black fruit, with well integrated oak, and mild tannic structure. Great, smooth finish. Great accompaniment to a char grilled Ribeye. A slight tad better than the 2008 Groth Cabernet which was enjoyed concurrently but not by much.
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Drank at wine club with Momofuku 48 hour short ribs with garlic mashed. It was paired against the 2008 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet. The O'Shaughnessy Cab won the day.
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Bright fruit. Nice varietal complexity. Drink now or hold onto it for several years. The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry, Raspberry, Red Currant, Black currant (cassis), Fig, Dust, Coffee, Vanilla, Nutmeg, Hazelnut, and Tar. The body is Medium. The wine has Coarse texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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From a split. Smooth and silky with a good balance of fruit, oak, acid, and tannin. This has a little bit of spice, but is not quite as complex as I was expecting. Medium length finish.
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Opened having received as left over from a tasting. Fruity, warm, very good, a touch spicy. Cherry, plum, rich. Quite well balanced. Truly pleading. Immediately craved a starch to go with it. Recommend.
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beautiful young wine, color deep purple, can't say on nose as i was smoking cigar too, palate was full and rich with dark fruit dominating, can taste the oak but nice and vanillin and gives the impression of dusty tannins (and i'm generally critical of too much oak)... great wine and crowd pleasing... don't know whether this will last ten years and blossom but will please the crowd for now for sure
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I bought the 08 because I love the 05. The 08 has that same dark fruit, leather, chocolate palate but it is much too young. I think in time it can be also be a tremendous 92+ wine but it will need several years,
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This is an outstanding wine. The nose had dark red fruit and a little leather. It had a nice structure with a good balance of acid and tannins. Mid-palate was nice and weighty and the finish was medium in length with more dark fruit.
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Drank with an 09 Stags Leap Artemis and an 08 Phelps Napa Valley. This was middle of the road fruity when compared to the Phelps. It's the most complex of the wines and probably the one that will age the best. Right now it has a little berry taste, but is mixed with some earthy flavors. Will look forward to drinking another in a few years.
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Very nice wine. New world style. Lots of fruit and oak. Flavorful and smooth with low tannin levels. Plush and heavy on the tongue. Low acidity. Long finish. Though as another member noted feels somewhat formulaic.
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Decanted 1 hour, drank over 3 hours. Dark fruit and leather on the nose. Medium concentrated dark and red fruit on the palate with leather/earth. Nice structure, integrated, balanced slightly toward acid. Drying tannins. Reticent initially, improved with time. Excelllent. Drink now with long decant or preferrably hold.
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A deep black cherry, dusty, and a slight leathery nose. Midpalate is classic Shafer weight (which I love), finish is a repeat of cherry and modest leather with a nice subtle mocha quality on the finish. Overall enjoyable, however I find the 2009 Shafer Merlot to be far superior in complexity.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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Thick, ruby red color with nice oaky and vanilla on the nose. Kirsch and cherry, along with oak dominate the early palate. Still a little tannic, but the balance is good. The finish is long and nice. Still probably needs a few years, but after an hour or two in the glass it is drinking nicely now.
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Loved this wine! Dark chocolate, cherry oak nose. Not very tannic. Not the wine for person that wants to get punched in the nose with fruit and powerful gum smacking, but ... if you like a balanced mellow dusty cab this is it. Excellent.
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Super fresh, super young, with lots of fruit present. Still very smooth though. Very pleasant, and very enjoyable. Will turn into a powerhouse in a few years. Just needs more time, but certainly drinkable now. Will just get better and more smooth with a few extra years.
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February Wine Dinner: Tasted non-blind at a wine dinner. Bottle had been open for several hours before tasting. Nose of cherries, leather, tobacco, cassis. More of the same on the palate with a slight hint of smoke. Long finish with some sour red fruit. Mouth coating tannins but is surprisingly drinkable despite its youth. I noted that the ABV on the label is 15.1% but the wine carries it well as I would never have thought it was any higher then 13.5-14%.
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Huge nose of dark fruit, vanilla, oak; med body; palate of red fruits, acid, oak, vanilla, acid leads to hint of grapefruit, gives way to long delicious finish w/ hint of carmel
EDIT - this was from a 375ml.
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Tasting at Shafer: Aged 22 months in new oak and another 12 in bottle. Inky crimson color. Aromas of black currants, cassis, violets, lavender, black cherry and blackberry. Chewy tannins; flavors of black fruits and cherry, plum and spice. Well-balanced; long finish.
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Gorgeous velvety perfumed wine. Medium viscosity, deep bright clarity. Nose was full of juicy black fruits and perfumed violets and pink roses and tahitian vanilla. Tasted like a bowl of perfectly ripe red and black fruits macerated in vanilla bean and a little savory. New oak present for that vanilla touch but good structure with acidity and soft tannins that showcased the fruit so beautifully. This was just so delicious. Drank it out on a deck overlooking the river and with a view of the mountains and good conversation. All in all, a great pairing.
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Deep currant. Perfume and violet. This wine is all about the perfume, violet and soft French oak silk. Soft but full tannins. Velvetty. Med plus concentration. Long finish. Very balanced.
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4/17/2023 - Wrkolbeck wrote: 93 Points
Wow! Lush blackberry fruit nose & palate. Exceptional balance & long finish. Damn good juice!
Wish I had more.
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3/4/2023 - Lockareff wrote: 93 Points
Loved it!
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2/18/2021 - phynes wrote: 93 Points
A more classic Napa wine than previous tastings. Fruit forward, alcoholic and a degree of heat throughout. Enjoyable but needs food to be at its best.
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11/27/2020 - cab blends wrote: 90 Points
Nondescript nose. Not blind.
Light sourness on the palate initially.
Hl 3. Fd 3.
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7/10/2020 - culater Likes this wine: 93 Points
Meat, hedonism, cassis with good acidity and tannin. Peaks now!
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8/21/2019 - Priorat Lover wrote: 93 Points
This is still going strong. Good mix of red/blue fruit. Nose was somewhat dim, but the finish strong. Excellent value for the $55 I paid for it a few years ago.
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7/27/2019 - mlawren1 wrote: 93 Points
Cherries, currants and raspberries, bit of caramel underneath.
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4/13/2019 - retired_and_roving wrote:
PnP - this bottle showed much better than the one we opened over christmas. Fruit profile is dark (blackberry and blueberry), but there is balance here, some dusty tannins still a bit of earth and leather. Don't think this will improve - drink up with next 3-5 years.
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12/26/2018 - retired_and_roving wrote:
12 Days of Christmas - 2018; 12/21/2018-1/1/2019 (NYC, Vermont, Lake Placid): Color is very dark leaning to purple. The nose is blueberry and earth. Oh this is pretty extracted even with 10 years in bottle, blueberry , some heat from the alcohol, tannins have smoothed - not enough acid, some earth. Not my style but others enjoyed.
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6/18/2018 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 90 Points
Dark purplish ruby red. Needed a little bit of time to open up with some notes of anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark berries, cassis and light plums. Medium tannins (5.5/10) and medium to medium plus body. Dark and juicy palate with dark berries, baking spices and dark cocoa. Medium plus length finish. Drink now.
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2/22/2018 - Winerut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing after 1 hour decant. Very well integrated fruit. Medium to fine tannins left. Still has time. Love it.
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1/20/2018 - Dr Root wrote: 91 Points
good balance. nicely done. plenty of fruit left. alcohol a bit high for my taste.
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5/17/2017 - Dhotchki Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for three hours and just starting to open. Soft fruit but tannins are balanced. Alcohol is soft on the tongue.
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5/6/2017 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
This needed and hour or two to open. Classic Shafer fruit with its high alcohol under control. Dark and packs a punch. 93+
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4/10/2017 - gmat5497 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Silky smooth yet power packed. Excellent
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2/24/2017 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sampled in single-blind fashion at a Napa Cabernet brown-bag tasting, this opaque crimson wine showed very well. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, it is a full-bodied, ripe, low-acid bruiser. Black and red currants, cherries, smoked meat, dried herbs and dark chocolate are supported by big sweet tannins. Despite being listed as 15.1%, the wine's alcohol stays in check. Layered and dense on the mid-palate, it finishes with a spice-laden, medium-length finish. This sultry Cab should hold up well for another decade or more. Drink now-2027.
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1/17/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had this as part of a 2008 Cabernet tasting, with 7 other members of my wine group. Not the WOTN, although a few liked it best and it was enjoyed by everyone.
Very fruit driven, and not much tannic grip. So it felt a little "flabby", at this point, it might be better as a sipping wine, as opposed to having it with a steakhouse meal.
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12/25/2016 - Rscholtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quite chunky, but showing really well right now for a tough vintage. Enough acid there to hold up for a fatty prime rib, but I wouldn't hold this much longer. Drink now.
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10/22/2016 - Bluth Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark ruby, better serve at temperature low enough to hide alcohol. Typical Napa kind with juicy, sweet and full body. Lot of residues that should be stood up for a couple of days prior to uncork and handle with care.
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10/4/2016 - phynes wrote: 93 Points
Tasted the Pichon Lalande 2003 alongside the Shafter One Point Five from 2008 and Cakebread 2009. The Pichon was more fragrant with more finesse, the Shafer more powerful and fruit forward and the Cakebread somewhere in between. People voted in different ways with the overall view that "all three were equally lovely but different"
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7/26/2016 - miadelt Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good Napa Cab. PnP. Full bodied. Smooth. Good fruit but not overripe. Had similar characteristics as the 2009 Shafer Hillside Select that was also consumed.
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4/26/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Night (Lincoln Squre Steaks, Amsterdam Ave, New York City): This drank so much better than my last bottle. It was a little heavier than the Larkmead and not as well balanced, but still a very enjoyable wine.
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4/17/2016 - Asmiller wrote:
Unfortunately, this bottle was corked. Have 1 more left, hope it is better!
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4/11/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dinner at Bistro Le Steak. Popped and poured. The 2nd wine we opened, the first being a 2010 Larkmead Firebelle.
The wine seemed a little flat, I'm a big fan of the One Point Five wines, but I'm wondering if its in or just past its prime drinking window. I will be opening up another 2008 later this month, it will be interesting to see how that bottle tastes. I have older and younger vintages of this wine in the past 12 months, and this was the least impressive bottle I've had.
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3/19/2016 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice rich, fruity taste here. Very good
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2/19/2016 - walkerjfw wrote:
Stag's Leap tasting at Pine Ridge during PNV week...
Big wine, as expected from Shafer. Dark fruits, cedar, camphor, slight pruniness. Sulky tannins and integrated oak. Not sure how long this had been open, I suspect it needs a couple hours in a decanter to really show, hard to rate based on this tasting but definitely a lot going on
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1/6/2016 - Dopas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blueberries and marshmellows on the nose. Birk on the palate. Nice balance, tannin mixed with some nice spice. Sediment has formed.
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1/4/2016 - meatbomb013 wrote: 89 Points
I believe that this bottle was corked.
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11/26/2015 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Rich blackberry aromas. Silky and suave palate texture. 15.1% ABV. Rich with more silk than spice. Easy level of concentration on the palate, not to wildly overdone on the palate.
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9/19/2015 - phynes Likes this wine: 94 Points
More classical Napa Cabernet than my last bottle. Everything is on the extreme side. Very rich dark fruits, strong but will integrated tannins and a lots of alcohol (15%). However, a very classy wine that softened for the better after a couple of hours in the decanter. At first I thought this was a wine to drink with food but I ended up drinking most of it without food and very much enjoyed it. Would expect it to last another 10 years.
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5/1/2015 - SMZ wrote: 93 Points
Expressive nose, explosive flavors.
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3/16/2015 - meatbomb013 Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is in prime-time drinking window now. Excellent balance of fruit and structure. Oak and tannins are really well integrated. In my opinion this is really in its sweet spot and will remain for another 1-2 years.
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12/13/2014 - Philippe_C wrote: 97 Points
wow! Explosive nose of super ripe cassis, very black, cedar, sandalwood, nice integrated vanilla, camphor... taste of black ripe cherries, super silky tannins, beautiful 45 seconds finish, nice refreshing acidity, I love this wine that is perfect to drink young!
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12/11/2014 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
Firm, with a lot of backbone - so tightly knit. I hesitate to say tannic - the tannins are there but this is more unformed vs. just tannic. This is quite stately, some slight pruniness and some led pencil, not the most open or friendly of wines perhaps, but there is a lot of quality there; it really needs another five years to show it though.
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7/4/2014 - JavierE Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent wine! Great body, long finish!
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7/3/2014 - H Crenshaw wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. This wine had a very chalky characteristic which was hard to get past. Overwhelmed the fruit and other flavors of the wine.
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6/7/2014 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 93 Points
I liked this much better than the 2007 One Point Five I had the other night because it showed more black fruit and had a longer finish. Really showing well right now.
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3/28/2014 - phynes Likes this wine: 92 Points
I really liked this wine but it confused me. I have been a fan of Shafer's Cabs for many years. Had I not known what this wine was, I would have thought it a Shiraz, with notes of blueberry, vanilla, peppers dominating. The alcohol - 15% - comes through but it is a lovely, harmonious wine with a lovely soft texture and a lengthy finish. Maybe it's just been a long week and I need to open another bottle tomorrow evening! Lovely but perplexing wine!
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3/20/2014 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very dark purple. Blackberries, cassis and tobacco on the nose. Rich and opulent with a healthy dose of tannins that will ensure a long life. Nice length. Great now with further potential for 10+ years.
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2/13/2014 - mactheknife Likes this wine: 92 Points
took to Italian restaurant and ate with Bolognese; hard to beat the combination. Rich but balanced; fruit is there in spades but settled in beautifully. Lots more life to this one.
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2/11/2014 - leecon wrote: 91 Points
Clear, deep purple. Had an pronounced intensity on the nose of dark fruit blackcurrant/ blackberry/ ripe but not cooked/ peppery spice/ vanilla, still developing.
Was dry on the palate with med plus acidity and fine high tannins, high alcohol, full bodied, pronounced intensity, more dark fruit, green pepper, graphite, nice long finish
Enjoyed this very much from a 375ml could definitely develop further but had nice fruit forward ness and fine tannin to make it pleasurable now
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1/26/2014 - jcasey555 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The dark fruit on the nose seemed more pronounced on this '08 even some hints of anise. Great wine, as always although this bottle was a notch above
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1/14/2014 - WineCellarTV Likes this wine: 94 Points
Garnet, inky colored with an almost black core.
Very dense and vital!
Aromatics of Ripe Dark Fruit and Berries. Stewed Fruit.
Beautiful Floral traces (Roses and Lilac) with Fresh Eucalypt and Herbs.
Sweet Vanilla, Tar, Dark Chocolate and Tobacco. Little traces of Smoke.
Decent Spiciness.
Complex, attractive, intense and inviting aromatics!
Powerful Flavors of Dark Fruit; Blue and Black Berries, Cherries and little Plum.
Some Herbal Spiciness. Hints of Lilac and Violets. Earthy characteristics.
Soft and warm mouthfeel. Perfectly round tannins and refreshing acidity.
Finishes soft, warm and very long with a ton of Dark Fruit (Black Cherry!), Soft Tannins and Decent Peppery Spiciness.
Greatly structured, multi-layered and delicious!
Intense and ripe, but harmonious, balanced and round wine!
It is still very young, but already very drinkable with beautiful finesse, complexity and drive.
This should evolve for another 10 to 20 years easily.
See more details at cellartv.wordpress.com
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12/1/2013 - awitz78 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really enjoyed this. Classic cab with dark fruit and tannins. Looking forward to trying the rest over the years.
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10/22/2013 - markcic wrote: 92 Points
We popped and let sit in the glass for a half hour. Dark ruby in color, nose of dark crushed fruit and peppers, the palate was rich with blueberry, green peppers, coffee and tobacco, a smooth enjoyable finish
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9/6/2013 - Sniktaw wrote: 94 Points
One of the nicest wines we've had all summer. Bold, complex, full of fruit and well balanced with outstanding tannins and a long finish.
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7/20/2013 - jfpwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Two hour decant. Strong alcohol on the nose, with wood and a hint of green peppers. Lucious body, with still harsh tannins on the long finish. I would advise waiting a couple more years more.
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7/7/2013 - rhialto wrote: 92 Points
Tasty
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6/19/2013 - Kburriss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very Smooth
The wine looks Ruby colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Blackberry. It tastes like and Oak. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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5/25/2013 - bin905 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is beautifully balanced.
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5/18/2013 - wmccone54 wrote: 95 Points
One of my favorites. Consistent year after year. The Stag's Leap fruit always seems to shine and show its smoothness, creaminess, silkiness, and approachability. Sweet black fruit, with well integrated oak, and mild tannic structure. Great, smooth finish. Great accompaniment to a char grilled Ribeye. A slight tad better than the 2008 Groth Cabernet which was enjoyed concurrently but not by much.
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5/18/2013 - SMZ wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully
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5/8/2013 - POBlund Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice - young and fruity. Still to develop. Already a good pair with a grilled entrecote. Will last several years.
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3/14/2013 - mzmijewski wrote: 92 Points
Heavily tannic
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3/14/2013 - John McCabe wrote: 92 Points
Really not ready for drinking yet.
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2/17/2013 - namdlaw wrote: 91 Points
Great nose medium mouthfeel long finish
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12/25/2012 - jeremyfg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious, as expected, and typical. Didn't hold up well the next day.
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12/24/2012 - Fullhouse Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very robust cab. Drinking well now - sure it will age well
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12/16/2012 - CobraKahn Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding. Deep, dark, brooding, complex and delicious.
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11/5/2012 - Bakeman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank at wine club with Momofuku 48 hour short ribs with garlic mashed. It was paired against the 2008 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet. The O'Shaughnessy Cab won the day.
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11/2/2012 - Chefthome Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bright fruit. Nice varietal complexity. Drink now or hold onto it for several years.
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry, Raspberry, Red Currant, Black currant (cassis), Fig, Dust, Coffee, Vanilla, Nutmeg, Hazelnut, and Tar. The body is Medium. The wine has Coarse texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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10/28/2012 - wineheadGA wrote: 94 Points
Big nose. Big, big fruit, continued to develop nicely over 3-4 hours, consistently gets better, drinks well now but will last another 4-5+
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10/27/2012 - AlphaL wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding! about the same as my comments in June
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10/2/2012 - VinoDiver wrote: 89 Points
Excellent structure. Wine opened up the second night and the fruit was more on display.
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9/29/2012 - Matt T wrote: 92 Points
From a split. Smooth and silky with a good balance of fruit, oak, acid, and tannin. This has a little bit of spice, but is not quite as complex as I was expecting. Medium length finish.
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9/29/2012 - Waynescoting wrote: 91 Points
Opened having received as left over from a tasting. Fruity, warm, very good, a touch spicy. Cherry, plum, rich. Quite well balanced. Truly pleading. Immediately craved a starch to go with it. Recommend.
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9/28/2012 - wine_snob wrote: 93 Points
big fruit, medium tannins, spicey.
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9/2/2012 - WoodieBayArea wrote: 91 Points
beautiful young wine, color deep purple, can't say on nose as i was smoking cigar too, palate was full and rich with dark fruit dominating, can taste the oak but nice and vanillin and gives the impression of dusty tannins (and i'm generally critical of too much oak)... great wine and crowd pleasing... don't know whether this will last ten years and blossom but will please the crowd for now for sure
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8/18/2012 - SMZ wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed this wine a lot. Deep purple in color and very flavorful.
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8/15/2012 - grapemaven wrote: 91 Points
I bought the 08 because I love the 05. The 08 has that same dark fruit, leather, chocolate palate but it is much too young. I think in time it can be also be a tremendous 92+ wine but it will need several years,
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6/27/2012 - AlphaL wrote: 92 Points
This is an outstanding wine. The nose had dark red fruit and a little leather. It had a nice structure with a good balance of acid and tannins. Mid-palate was nice and weighty and the finish was medium in length with more dark fruit.
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5/16/2012 - Synergist wrote: 91 Points
Very nice and smooth
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5/3/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very big, yet structured. Dark fruit and sweet tannins.
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4/26/2012 - WaldoSPE wrote: 89 Points
Drank with an 09 Stags Leap Artemis and an 08 Phelps Napa Valley. This was middle of the road fruity when compared to the Phelps. It's the most complex of the wines and probably the one that will age the best. Right now it has a little berry taste, but is mixed with some earthy flavors. Will look forward to drinking another in a few years.
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4/20/2012 - chuckk Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very nice wine. New world style. Lots of fruit and oak. Flavorful and smooth with low tannin levels. Plush and heavy on the tongue. Low acidity. Long finish. Though as another member noted feels somewhat formulaic.
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4/8/2012 - Empirate wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour, drank over 3 hours. Dark fruit and leather on the nose. Medium concentrated dark and red fruit on the palate with leather/earth. Nice structure, integrated, balanced slightly toward acid. Drying tannins. Reticent initially, improved with time. Excelllent. Drink now with long decant or preferrably hold.
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4/4/2012 - Gestalted wrote: 91 Points
A deep black cherry, dusty, and a slight leathery nose. Midpalate is classic Shafer weight (which I love), finish is a repeat of cherry and modest leather with a nice subtle mocha quality on the finish. Overall enjoyable, however I find the 2009 Shafer Merlot to be far superior in complexity.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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4/1/2012 - davidrh1 wrote:
Thick, ruby red color with nice oaky and vanilla on the nose. Kirsch and cherry, along with oak dominate the early palate. Still a little tannic, but the balance is good. The finish is long and nice. Still probably needs a few years, but after an hour or two in the glass it is drinking nicely now.
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3/24/2012 - km5 wrote:
Tasted after a 2008 Quilceda. Not as refined..not there yet.
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3/16/2012 - kevincavin wrote: 93 Points
For a recent vintage Napa Cab (i.e. Drink now) this is really, really good. I need to buy more.
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3/4/2012 - StlAndy wrote: 93 Points
Loved this wine! Dark chocolate, cherry oak nose. Not very tannic. Not the wine for person that wants to get punched in the nose with fruit and powerful gum smacking, but ... if you like a balanced mellow dusty cab this is it. Excellent.
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2/18/2012 - Deco11811 wrote: 96 Points
Classic, can't wait to see what happens over another few years. Great dark fruit and oak. Vanilla and toast, drink with strong herbal flavors.
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2/11/2012 - ckinv368 wrote: 89 Points
Tasted double-blind at wine dinner.
Super fresh, super young, with lots of fruit present. Still very smooth though. Very pleasant, and very enjoyable. Will turn into a powerhouse in a few years. Just needs more time, but certainly drinkable now. Will just get better and more smooth with a few extra years.
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2/11/2012 - floydtp wrote: 91 Points
February Wine Dinner: Tasted non-blind at a wine dinner. Bottle had been open for several hours before tasting. Nose of cherries, leather, tobacco, cassis. More of the same on the palate with a slight hint of smoke. Long finish with some sour red fruit. Mouth coating tannins but is surprisingly drinkable despite its youth. I noted that the ABV on the label is 15.1% but the wine carries it well as I would never have thought it was any higher then 13.5-14%.
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2/1/2012 - daniel.jay wrote: 93 Points
Huge nose of dark fruit, vanilla, oak; med body; palate of red fruits, acid, oak, vanilla, acid leads to hint of grapefruit, gives way to long delicious finish w/ hint of carmel
EDIT - this was from a 375ml.
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1/27/2012 - CultCabKing wrote: 89 Points
really good!
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1/22/2012 - mstag1 wrote: 92 Points
Nicely balanced cab with a smooth, long finish. Less than an hour after opening drank very well.
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11/26/2011 - bin905 wrote: 92 Points
Refined, smooth, velvety, integrated, dark fruit, spice and coffee flavors with ample smooth tannins.
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10/31/2011 - Dasher wrote: 92 Points
Fruity with lots of Oak. Intresting bottle
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10/28/2011 - mdmcgonigal wrote: 92 Points
Very dark fruit and lavender nose. Blackberry and currant flavors, milder than the nose would suggest. Delicious cab!
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10/6/2011 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Tasting at Shafer: Aged 22 months in new oak and another 12 in bottle. Inky crimson color. Aromas of black currants, cassis, violets, lavender, black cherry and blackberry. Chewy tannins; flavors of black fruits and cherry, plum and spice. Well-balanced; long finish.
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10/5/2011 - Zafer wrote:
Fruity, oaky Napa Cab, but good, very smooth for its young age. Popped and poured at a restaurant, but still wasn't very harsh.
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9/24/2011 - Papies wrote: 85 Points
Not for the old scholl guys. Lots of oak, spicy, full but it has sort of too much feeling, and almost artificial. Lacks complexity and vigour.
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9/17/2011 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another great vintage of One Point Five. More accessible than the Hillside and nice introduction to there style.
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7/25/2011 - rosesandthorns wrote: 90 Points
Gorgeous velvety perfumed wine. Medium viscosity, deep bright clarity. Nose was full of juicy black fruits and perfumed violets and pink roses and tahitian vanilla. Tasted like a bowl of perfectly ripe red and black fruits macerated in vanilla bean and a little savory. New oak present for that vanilla touch but good structure with acidity and soft tannins that showcased the fruit so beautifully. This was just so delicious. Drank it out on a deck overlooking the river and with a view of the mountains and good conversation. All in all, a great pairing.
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7/14/2011 - RadarPC wrote: 92 Points
- Fast forming legs and has flavours of black pepper and oak - Lovely velvet finish.
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5/16/2011 - DSaeedi wrote: 93 Points
Deep currant. Perfume and violet. This wine is all about the perfume, violet and soft French oak silk. Soft but full tannins. Velvetty. Med plus concentration. Long finish. Very balanced.
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5/5/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
All American Tasting (Binny's on Grand): Good rich. uber ripe. Blue fruit. A hint of beef jerky as well. Really fun to try.
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4/21/2011 - St Paul wrote: 92 Points
This is a great cabernet with quite a velvety finnish. Very approachable as well.
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4/20/2011 - PSUSteve wrote:
At tasting room and not sure how long it was open. This was a very well balanced wine which was smooth with light tannins.
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