What a treat. Rhubarb treacle, blackberry pie, black tea, fine tannin, moderate to moderate plus acidity. Goddamn. Delicious. A little hot, but so very sexy. Opulent and generous. Tasted after a 4 hour decant. Will revisit tomorrow.
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Perfect Merlot. 16 years old and not a thing missing. Great balance of oak, earth, and berries. Wonderful color. Not much nose however....2 hours later, even better. Nice bouquet now. Wow.
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No detailed notes. Wanted to like this more than I did. Fruit was there, but a touch on the astringent side. Still, a nice wine, which definitely showed better with food.
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Had the misfortune to be consumed alongside a magnum of '05 Pahlmeyer merlot, which to me was the better wine. The Shafer was a little more one-dimensional and earthy. But still, a very nice wine and I'm happy to have one more bottle.
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Well well, its been almost 10 years since I last visited these lovely ladies. Here goes..
Nose: There is a lovely aroma of coffee beans and tobacco and im not saying it as a typical swirl your nose on the glass scene, literally the scents flows in the air after I opened the wine and decanted it by the decanter
Color: A dark maroon-clay brick swirl
Taste: I was really happy on its first sip from the top neck of the bottle, you have tons of aged plums and dark dried fruits soaked in coffee finishings. Quite a bit of sharp tannins and some small notes of alcohol notes holding.
Decanted 1.5 hrs later, the Shafer opened up nicely, the tannins and alcohol notes have lightened and it loosen up the acidity, the berries and fruit notes favor surface even more on the glass and you could taste the aged grapes on each sip with small hint of sugary finishings. There is so much toffee and caramel notes flowing in as it swirls.
Remarkably this merlot is another great example and demonstration on how past napa wine makers without mega purple could out perform in creation to a stunning bottle of Merlot that could easily paired against with a super 2nd or 3rd label of a saint emilion.
I have 6 more bottles, would be gone in no time. However judging from the notation on its tannins, if ypu are able to find some in mint conditions, this Shafer can easily hold off for another 10 years before climbing its peak. The bottles I have were all in perfect cellar conditions. Lovely wine and Shafer did an amazing job even for something thats not a “1.5” or “relentless” level.
Cheers The Winenald Ronald Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
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Deep garnet color, aromatic at first and then seemed to fizzle. The palette was quite light almost watery in texture. Some cherry flavor but muted. No lingering flavors at all
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Nose has elements of cherry, bell pepper, white pepper and a little cedar. Very smooth (glycerin) entry and slides through your mouth. Cherry, raspberry fruit with a touch of creme brulee. Medium finish were the acid lingers with the fruit. A touch primary still but very nice. One of my best merlot experiences in the past 18 months.
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Drank for dinner. Was decanted and aerated at restaurant, but needed to breathe more. Toward the end of dinner showed very well. unbelievably smooth, great black fruit, well int oak, vanilla notes. started off astringent, but later the fruit evolved. would have liked to drink after hours of breathing, but dinner rushed us.
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This was mediocre out of the bottle and supurb after several days in the refrigerator. I have another half bottle to drink and am looking forward to it.
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MAN IN THE BOAT OVERBOARD!!! Wow served next to Duckhorn Merlot 2004 along side with steaks. Stride for stride it was a photo finish...we lost photos and therefore we will call it a tie. Drink up..I doubt it can get any better
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Lovely, huge but not overbearing, seems to have many years ahead of it making the recommended CT drinking window redundant in my opinion - Black, full bodied with a nose of plum, black fruit, cedar, mocha and vanilla, quite balanced with a touch of heat, complex, sweet and velvety smooth on the palate with excellent length, outstanding (92 Points).
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Decanted. Dark ruby red, mostly clear, medium body. Aromas of vanilla oak, baking spice. Layered flavors of cassis, cherry, cedar shavings and a bit of mint. Polished, elegant mouthfeel. Nice, medium-long finish. A very supple, silky Merlot.
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Pop and pour. Alcohol and oak on a nose dominated by ripe black and blue fruits. Tanins seem to be fading/disintegrating from beneath a bed of fruits that match the nose. As noted by tooch, there's a sense of purity to the fruit that shines through this wine and brightens it up. Nice wine but at/nearing its peak.
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A very hedonistic merlot, but made with absolutely pure fruit it doesn't come across over the top. The texture, balance and firmness of the wine are unmistakable - very well made wine.
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Nose: smells like single malt scotch with cherries and caramel! So neat! Pallet: almost no alcohol - very nice indeed. Fruit (strawberry, grapes?), Caramel and pepper? Legs: few tannins, but a nice low low heat
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Fantastic merlot! Big lush mouthfeel, with wonderful layers of brambly fruit and a firm balance of alcohol. Had with a steak dinner, carmalized onions, and light butter noodles. Delicious!
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This was a disappointment. On the nose, it reminded me a lot of a 1984 Gun Bun Cabernet I had recently, which was over the hill and had a distinctive nose that I still can't describe. The fruit's still here, but there's an unpleasant undercurrent that's holding back the tastiness that I know is hiding underneath. There's no bottle taint I can detect, it just to me doesn't deliver for such a premium wine.
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Similar to last bottle, this is a really well made merlot that is drinking well right now, smooth, balanced, a bottle to be enjoyed- one of the few merlot's I own.
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Dark and rich, as you only expect from this winery. Merlot may have some bad press right now, but this stuff was awsome with smoked Ham on easter, and Chocolate Eggs for desert. Dark Purple and near opaque. Dark Bramble blackberry and some floral aspect. The Oak was noticable, but well in the background. Real velvet mouthfeel.
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Really well done. Thick coating juice that had excellent structure. Very good nose, which definitely featured the aromatic components of the small quantities of Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon. Bramble, kirsch, a touch of spice, sour chery and some oak. Complex nose gave way to very nice palate. The wine blended seamlessly and had a good backbone. The cherry, vanlla and oak blended very well, with a good secondary spice note providing a great undercurrent. The finish was a *tad* hot, but nothing to complain about. Not particularly long, but not a major flaw. Great bottle of Merlot that should definitely age for several more years.
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H. L. Mencken was certainly prolific enough that I should have read something by him and well respected enough that I could have read one of the many books about him. However, I know Mencken only by reputation and the liberal use of quotes from his works. In a recent edition of the New York Times the following quote was used to illustrate a point, “criticism is prejudice made plausible”. This pithy perspective is used enough that a Google search turns up dozens of entries. As with Mencken himself, this quote has more than one interpretation. First, it could mean we are all bigots and criticism no matter persuasively stated still stands as bigotry. Given Mencken’s role as a critic I doubt he would define his work so narrowly. A broader interpretation would be that if your criticism is not accurate in content, moral in nature, and logical in interpretation then you have just fallen back on unexamined prejudice. Since I would prefer to think of myself as a wine reviewer rather than a wine bigot, I am going to use the latter interpretation.
For me, one of the best attributes of Cellartracker is the multiple reviews of each wine. What it has allowed me to realize is how much bottle variation exists. I don’t think this bottle was quit as good as the others reviewed and I don’t think that it is because I am a harsher reviewer. The bottle just seemed different. Opened for one hour before serving. Served slightly warmer than I prefer; room temperature was about 70 degrees and I had no way to keep the bottle cooler. At this temperature the wine was slightly alcoholic on the nose. The wine was not as visually extracted with color as I expected. Mainly red without the purple hues other reviews mentioned. Blackberry, clove, and vanilla in the nose. Tasty but simple flavors of blackberry, clove, and oak. Medium bodied. Flavor, acid, and tannin well positioned. Finish concentrated solely in the front of the palate with drying astringency. Finished disappeared in the back of the palate. Enjoyable, but not what I was expecting.
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Decanted for 30 minutes. Medium-dark purple in the glass. This bottle showed exceptionally well. A beautiful nose of ripe blackberries, blueberries, violets, cassis, and a hint of olive. Well-structured; light, delicious fruit on the palate with plenty of acidity. A firm, tannic grip leading to a medium-long finish. Absolutely delicious. A great example of well-made Merlot.
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In 4 years this is as good as the 97 was after 8 years. Very rich and dark with dark blueberry tastes and a light floral nose maybe violets? Very impressive. Smooth and well balanced. Its the only merlot I buy.
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I've had several bottles of the 04, it is drinking great now, big improvement for me over earlier bottles. Nancy requested a merlot, and it was a great choice, smooth, well balanced, nice fruit.
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Not decanted. Inviting nose of blueberries, vanilla and earth. Well structured palate with mediium-heavy fruit weight and is somewhat mouthcoating, giving the impression of penetrating fruit flavors, with a spicey component. Plenty of tannins and decent acidity hold the package togother. Very nice with a garlicy flank steak.
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A tight nose, but full of upfront fruit with a smooth, silky texture and soft tannins. Very generous with the sweet blueberry pie, nutmeg and vanilla flavors, and even a little mocha. A moderate lengthed finish with just a smidgen of heat.
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Beautiful blueberry aroma on opening, this one is richer than I remember either the 2001 or the 1997. I think this will be a beauty in about 3 years...the tannins aren't bad but are a little prominent right now. Shafer doen't disappoint!
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Drank this following a 2004 nickel & nickel suscol ranch merlot. where the N & N had distinct layers of oak and fruit, this had much riper fruit and was homogenous from start to finish with a subtle finish.
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Wonderful nose of cedar, blackberry fruit. Very little earthiness, plenty of cherries, chocolate, oak. Evolved wonderfully in the glass. Plenty of grip and structure throughout, wonderfully accompanying some flank steak. Had this with a 2003 Leonetti - I'm not sure which I'd pick again with price no object, but given the values I would go with Shafer every time.
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Bright cherry fruit. Earth, plumb and blueberry. Very firm tannins and noticeable oak. Rich monolithic finish with good acidity. Tight and young with a nice life ahead. 14.4% alcohol.
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Anyone who says they don't like Merlot needs to try this. Decanted for 1 hour. Nice deep purple color. Dark fruits on the nose and palate, balanced with good acitidy and fine tannins. Nice medium finish. Paired well with prime rib, mushroom risotto, and roasted asparagus. What a nice bottle of wine to share with our family. Will buy more if able.
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Dark and lush. Still softening at four hours. Dark cherries, chocolate linger on the palate leaving a little pepper and vanilla going on for an unusually long finish. Quite elegant and still young. 92+
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Hawaii Vacation Wines - Fall 2007; 10/4/2007-10/14/2007 (Big Island, Hawaii): A bit better than the last bottle due to a touch of bottle age. Lush, sweet, sexy fruit of berry, plum, exotic chocolate and french vanilla. This is a Cab Lovers merlot, big and ripe, but with well structured tannins and acidity to create seamless balance. Long, lush 30+ second finish.
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Frugal/First Steps Tasting (Nashville): Chalky rich fruit with earthy complexity; very nice; not a little merlot. Long finish with very pleasant chalky tannins displaying no bitterness at all. Yumm!
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Purchased this wine and enjoyed with room service seafood meal in my hotel room. Probably not ideal for the food selection but after dinner it showed it's colors! Speaking of which, very dark almost black with purple edges in color (granted, low light of hotel room). Nose was light but pleasant note of black cherry, chocolate, and maybe a hint of vanilla. Initially a bit alcoholic but after dinner smoothed with pleasing tastes of sweet cherry, mocha, and again maybe some vanilla. Nice balanced fruit flavor with some barrel tones. Not something I would say as rememberable but a very easy drinking smooth Merlot. A bit expensive for Merlots these days I think but all in all quite pleasing to drink on its own.
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Dark purple/red hue in the glass. Rich flavours of plums, dark berries and vanilla resonate in the nose and mouth. This is rich and lush without being overconcentrated, with a silky smooth finish showing a little heat.
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I find this to be a really good wine for the money, especially in Napa Merlot, considering it's decanted for an hour. Without air time, its a bit young and alcoholic, but it has the fruit forwardness. Very enjoyable, quite a mouthfeel after a bit of decanting or swirling. Very sweet, but also complex. Seems like a cab lover's merlot to me. I ended up buying 2 cases of it.
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Buying this was a bit of a mistake on my part. I had it on my ideas list, but had decided against $40 for a merlot. Then somehow, I got confused and bought it anyway. I will say this, the 90 score reflects the QPR because if this was cheaper, the score would have been higher. This is really a very good wine with serious depth, fruit, and balance. Gayle said she never would have thought it was a merlot. A pleasure to drink, but probably not a repurchase for $40.
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1st wine of 4. Enjoyed with seafood salad, empanadas and baked palmetta cheese. Bright lively cherry notes with chocolate, and very light spice. Balanced finish. Moderate low acidity and tannins. Solid California Merlot every year.
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Hawaii Vacation Wines; 2/10/2007-2/24/2007 (Big Island Hawaii): Ripe, almost sexy amounts of blackberry, plum, casis, bitter chocolate, and vanilla. Lush, hedonistic mouthfeel with mouthwatering acidity to balance the fruit. Long, lingering finish with a touch of mocha and sweet oak.
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Dark purple/black color. Thick tainting stripes. Sweet and fruity nose of blackberries and raspberries. Full-bodied, very fat and low on acid. Crowdpleaser jam... but not too much. I didn't have high expectations, but I was actually quite pleased. Opened (but not decanted) 4 hours in advance.
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Dark rich purple in color with, even after decanting a hesitant and reserved nose that did have components of dark berries and a light aroma of dark chocolate. That chocolate also came thru on the palate with a very smooth entry and a medium grip of fruit. Very light structure and pleasant to drink, but no wow factor here. It did pair well with a grilled prime NY strip...
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This wine is truly berry candy with mouthfuls of sweet vanilla, ripe cherries and white chocolate. Though sexy and smooth at the moment, it lacks the depth and structure needed to age for any extended period of time. Shafer continues to put out some of the finest, most refined merlots on the market.
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Classic Shafer Merlot. Tons of light berries. Smooth and silky. Went excellent with our leg of lamb and shrimp entrees. Sure to save my other bottles for later years as it will open up with time.
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Tasting note from memory. A young fruit rich merlot, missing, however, an overall balance and concentration in fruit that I would expect at this point. While drinking fine now, I’m not sure it has the balance to age.. I’ve come to the conclusion that these merlots are better young than aged, I have not had many stellar examples of an older Shafer Merlot that has improved past three or so years.
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6/14/2020 - djchango77 Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a treat. Rhubarb treacle, blackberry pie, black tea, fine tannin, moderate to moderate plus acidity. Goddamn. Delicious. A little hot, but so very sexy. Opulent and generous. Tasted after a 4 hour decant. Will revisit tomorrow.
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5/29/2020 - thecarolinaway Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect Merlot. 16 years old and not a thing missing. Great balance of oak, earth, and berries. Wonderful color. Not much nose however....2 hours later, even better. Nice bouquet now. Wow.
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3/21/2020 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
No detailed notes. Wanted to like this more than I did. Fruit was there, but a touch on the astringent side. Still, a nice wine, which definitely showed better with food.
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12/8/2019 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Had the misfortune to be consumed alongside a magnum of '05 Pahlmeyer merlot, which to me was the better wine. The Shafer was a little more one-dimensional and earthy. But still, a very nice wine and I'm happy to have one more bottle.
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11/5/2019 - Twino2 wrote: 83 Points
Loved it
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4/23/2019 - WineConfiguration Likes this wine: 94 Points
Well well, its been almost 10 years since I last visited these lovely ladies. Here goes..
Nose: There is a lovely aroma of coffee beans and tobacco and im not saying it as a typical swirl your nose on the glass scene, literally the scents flows in the air after I opened the wine and decanted it by the decanter
Color: A dark maroon-clay brick swirl
Taste: I was really happy on its first sip from the top neck of the bottle, you have tons of aged plums and dark dried fruits soaked in coffee finishings. Quite a bit of sharp tannins and some small notes of alcohol notes holding.
Decanted 1.5 hrs later, the Shafer opened up nicely, the tannins and alcohol notes have lightened and it loosen up the acidity, the berries and fruit notes favor surface even more on the glass and you could taste the aged grapes on each sip with small hint of sugary finishings. There is so much toffee and caramel notes flowing in as it swirls.
Remarkably this merlot is another great example and demonstration on how past napa wine makers without mega purple could out perform in creation to a stunning bottle of Merlot that could easily paired against with a super 2nd or 3rd label of a saint emilion.
I have 6 more bottles, would be gone in no time. However judging from the notation on its tannins, if ypu are able to find some in mint conditions, this Shafer can easily hold off for another 10 years before climbing its peak. The bottles I have were all in perfect cellar conditions. Lovely wine and Shafer did an amazing job even for something thats not a “1.5” or “relentless” level.
Cheers
The Winenald Ronald
Of Boston, Manhattan, Hong Kong and Shanghai
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1/5/2019 - JCaress wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic. Surprisingly good. Smooth berry, chocolate and sweet cherry. Best merlot I have had in some time.
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3/8/2018 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sauv. Blanc and Merlot Night (Bear and Star, Los Olivos, CA): Really impressive, silky, pure, balanced rich and structured, showing ripe currant notes, though it closed down a bit over time.
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8/6/2016 - maitredgreg2 Likes this wine: 93 Points
For a merlot, this was absolutely silky and delicious.
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2/2/2016 - rwstorer wrote: 92 Points
Similar note to previous. Drinking beautifully.
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12/1/2015 - tomoem Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Deep garnet color, aromatic at first and then seemed to fizzle. The palette was quite light almost watery in texture. Some cherry flavor but muted. No lingering flavors at all
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10/22/2015 - iamandyc wrote: flawed
Flawed
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5/18/2015 - rwstorer wrote: 92 Points
- Crimsom color and aromas of cherry, chocolate, cloves and vanilla. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry - Drinking nicely
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3/15/2015 - woofy Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine comes out great, but one or two swirls in the glass really opens up. Nice bouquet, deep dark, and a smooth as can be. Enjoy.
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6/8/2014 - grapist wrote:
This bottle not up to previous. Maybe time to drink up.
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10/20/2013 - MOWE_NV wrote: 90 Points
Cherry, cedarbox, Tabacco leaf, very nice! Good freshness - quite youthful & should still be good for few years
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8/30/2013 - grapist Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark and lush. Blueberry,coffee, chocolate, and even a trace of pepper and vanilla. Still drinking young as it continued to open until finished.
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2/21/2013 - grapist wrote: 90 Points
Still some unresolved tannins. Rich full-bodied. Needs an hour decanter time.
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6/17/2012 - jmottern wrote: 94 Points
Super merlot. Full, complex and smooth fruit.
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5/25/2012 - jmottern wrote: 94 Points
Smooth fruit with excelent finish. This wine is at its prime.
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3/24/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
Nose has elements of cherry, bell pepper, white pepper and a little cedar. Very smooth (glycerin) entry and slides through your mouth. Cherry, raspberry fruit with a touch of creme brulee. Medium finish were the acid lingers with the fruit. A touch primary still but very nice. One of my best merlot experiences in the past 18 months.
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2/4/2012 - woofy wrote: 90 Points
Easy drinking. Some of the fruit is gone.
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1/22/2012 - grapist wrote: 92 Points
Tasty juice. Lots of fruit, well integrated tannins.
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8/10/2011 - michigan dogs wrote: 91 Points
drinking great now, with air, smooth
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7/5/2011 - WI WineLover wrote: 88 Points
Surprisingly disappointing. Expected a lot from this one....perhaps breathing more may have helped
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6/26/2011 - vinovin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank for dinner. Was decanted and aerated at restaurant, but needed to breathe more. Toward the end of dinner showed very well. unbelievably smooth, great black fruit, well int oak, vanilla notes. started off astringent, but later the fruit evolved. would have liked to drink after hours of breathing, but dinner rushed us.
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5/16/2011 - jmottern wrote: 90 Points
This was mediocre out of the bottle and supurb after several days in the refrigerator. I have another half bottle to drink and am looking forward to it.
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4/7/2011 - redman77 wrote: 93 Points
MAN IN THE BOAT OVERBOARD!!! Wow served next to Duckhorn Merlot 2004 along side with steaks. Stride for stride it was a photo finish...we lost photos and therefore we will call it a tie. Drink up..I doubt it can get any better
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3/19/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 92 Points
Lovely, huge but not overbearing, seems to have many years ahead of it making the recommended CT drinking window redundant in my opinion - Black, full bodied with a nose of plum, black fruit, cedar, mocha and vanilla, quite balanced with a touch of heat, complex, sweet and velvety smooth on the palate with excellent length, outstanding (92 Points).
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2/11/2011 - Wineholio wrote: 88 Points
Decanted. Dark ruby red, mostly clear, medium body. Aromas of vanilla oak, baking spice. Layered flavors of cassis, cherry, cedar shavings and a bit of mint. Polished, elegant mouthfeel. Nice, medium-long finish. A very supple, silky Merlot.
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1/15/2011 - michigan dogs wrote: 91 Points
consistent with previous posts, not big, but very smooth and tasty
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12/19/2010 - vinodonpedro wrote: 91 Points
Rich wine, drank really well. Ripe with dark fruits. Really enjoyed this fine merlot.
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11/26/2010 - rpenn77 wrote: 93 Points
Terrific nose and big mouthfeel. Really drinking well now.
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11/13/2010 - jc510 wrote:
Totally impressed with this wine. Big and rich, warm vintage characteristics.
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11/4/2010 - QSilver wrote: 91 Points
An outstanding wine and vintage. Just slightly behind the 2003s. Had at dinner with M, A, and T. (91)
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8/1/2010 - davidandrose wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Alcohol and oak on a nose dominated by ripe black and blue fruits. Tanins seem to be fading/disintegrating from beneath a bed of fruits that match the nose. As noted by tooch, there's a sense of purity to the fruit that shines through this wine and brightens it up. Nice wine but at/nearing its peak.
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5/8/2010 - nschmidt wrote: 89 Points
Drank at 32 with Adrianne and Sarah. Well made wine with a touch of Cal forwardness that I always find awkward but Adrianne likes.
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3/6/2010 - tooch wrote: 90 Points
A very hedonistic merlot, but made with absolutely pure fruit it doesn't come across over the top. The texture, balance and firmness of the wine are unmistakable - very well made wine.
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1/27/2010 - jcasey555 wrote: 92 Points
Last 04. Great truffle nose and dark red fruit finish. Wish I had more. Drank w beef stew.
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1/9/2010 - redman77 wrote: 92 Points
Velvet fruit with long finish. Like a Cab with big fruit. I wish I could afford to drink everyday! Drink up!
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12/21/2009 - Maverick wrote: 89 Points
smooth and balanced. Not complex or nuanced. Good depth and structure but lacks a tad on length.
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11/26/2009 - navquarter wrote: 90 Points
Nose: smells like single malt scotch with cherries and caramel! So neat!
Pallet: almost no alcohol - very nice indeed. Fruit (strawberry, grapes?), Caramel and pepper?
Legs: few tannins, but a nice low low heat
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10/15/2009 - OTTnMIA wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic merlot! Big lush mouthfeel, with wonderful layers of brambly fruit and a firm balance of alcohol. Had with a steak dinner, carmalized onions, and light butter noodles. Delicious!
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6/21/2009 - Mikealvin wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding.
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6/20/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 85 Points
This was a disappointment. On the nose, it reminded me a lot of a 1984 Gun Bun Cabernet I had recently, which was over the hill and had a distinctive nose that I still can't describe. The fruit's still here, but there's an unpleasant undercurrent that's holding back the tastiness that I know is hiding underneath. There's no bottle taint I can detect, it just to me doesn't deliver for such a premium wine.
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6/13/2009 - ebrumby wrote: 93 Points
One of the best bottles of wine I have had this year.
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6/8/2009 - michigan dogs wrote: 91 Points
Similar to last bottle, this is a really well made merlot that is drinking well right now, smooth, balanced, a bottle to be enjoyed- one of the few merlot's I own.
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5/22/2009 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 92 Points
Yum.
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4/18/2009 - mpricher wrote: 91 Points
Dark and rich, as you only expect from this winery. Merlot may have some bad press right now, but this stuff was awsome with smoked Ham on easter, and Chocolate Eggs for desert. Dark Purple and near opaque. Dark Bramble blackberry and some floral aspect. The Oak was noticable, but well in the background. Real velvet mouthfeel.
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2/21/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 92 Points
Really well done. Thick coating juice that had excellent structure. Very good nose, which definitely featured the aromatic components of the small quantities of Cab Franc and Cab Sauvignon. Bramble, kirsch, a touch of spice, sour chery and some oak. Complex nose gave way to very nice palate. The wine blended seamlessly and had a good backbone. The cherry, vanlla and oak blended very well, with a good secondary spice note providing a great undercurrent. The finish was a *tad* hot, but nothing to complain about. Not particularly long, but not a major flaw. Great bottle of Merlot that should definitely age for several more years.
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2/18/2009 - NPWolfe wrote: 86 Points
H. L. Mencken was certainly prolific enough that I should have read something by him and well respected enough that I could have read one of the many books about him. However, I know Mencken only by reputation and the liberal use of quotes from his works. In a recent edition of the New York Times the following quote was used to illustrate a point, “criticism is prejudice made plausible”. This pithy perspective is used enough that a Google search turns up dozens of entries. As with Mencken himself, this quote has more than one interpretation. First, it could mean we are all bigots and criticism no matter persuasively stated still stands as bigotry. Given Mencken’s role as a critic I doubt he would define his work so narrowly. A broader interpretation would be that if your criticism is not accurate in content, moral in nature, and logical in interpretation then you have just fallen back on unexamined prejudice. Since I would prefer to think of myself as a wine reviewer rather than a wine bigot, I am going to use the latter interpretation.
For me, one of the best attributes of Cellartracker is the multiple reviews of each wine. What it has allowed me to realize is how much bottle variation exists. I don’t think this bottle was quit as good as the others reviewed and I don’t think that it is because I am a harsher reviewer. The bottle just seemed different. Opened for one hour before serving. Served slightly warmer than I prefer; room temperature was about 70 degrees and I had no way to keep the bottle cooler. At this temperature the wine was slightly alcoholic on the nose. The wine was not as visually extracted with color as I expected. Mainly red without the purple hues other reviews mentioned. Blackberry, clove, and vanilla in the nose. Tasty but simple flavors of blackberry, clove, and oak. Medium bodied. Flavor, acid, and tannin well positioned. Finish concentrated solely in the front of the palate with drying astringency. Finished disappeared in the back of the palate. Enjoyable, but not what I was expecting.
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2/15/2009 - compiq wrote: 94 Points
Delicious A superior bottle of wine
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1/13/2009 - Double D wrote: 91 Points
Not as good as previous bottles but still very nice....seems a bit rough edged....maybe it was the ham!
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12/20/2008 - gigabit wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Medium-dark purple in the glass. This bottle showed exceptionally well. A beautiful nose of ripe blackberries, blueberries, violets, cassis, and a hint of olive. Well-structured; light, delicious fruit on the palate with plenty of acidity. A firm, tannic grip leading to a medium-long finish. Absolutely delicious. A great example of well-made Merlot.
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10/22/2008 - Double D wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with previous tasting, I will leave the rest of the case for a llittle more bottle aging.
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10/7/2008 - Double D wrote: 94 Points
In 4 years this is as good as the 97 was after 8 years. Very rich and dark with dark blueberry tastes and a light floral nose maybe violets? Very impressive. Smooth and well balanced. Its the only merlot I buy.
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7/28/2008 - michigan dogs wrote: 91 Points
I've had several bottles of the 04, it is drinking great now, big improvement for me over earlier bottles. Nancy requested a merlot, and it was a great choice, smooth, well balanced, nice fruit.
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6/12/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
Not decanted. Inviting nose of blueberries, vanilla and earth. Well structured palate with mediium-heavy fruit weight and is somewhat mouthcoating, giving the impression of penetrating fruit flavors, with a spicey component. Plenty of tannins and decent acidity hold the package togother. Very nice with a garlicy flank steak.
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6/11/2008 - orcharddude22 wrote: 78 Points
Nearly undrinkable, no undrinkable and down the drain, dominated by hot alcohol. Does not seem to be corked.
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5/15/2008 - dpeters99 wrote: 89 Points
very drinkable, nice balance.
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5/13/2008 - dukapaducah wrote: 93 Points
Nice fruity nose. Just got better from start to finish. Exceptionally smooth.
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5/10/2008 - BSpdx wrote: 90 Points
A tight nose, but full of upfront fruit with a smooth, silky texture and soft tannins. Very generous with the sweet blueberry pie, nutmeg and vanilla flavors, and even a little mocha. A moderate lengthed finish with just a smidgen of heat.
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4/22/2008 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple with nice presence built around chocolate and ripe blueberries. Wonderful nose. Tannins well intergrated and soft.
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3/1/2008 - Double D wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful blueberry aroma on opening, this one is richer than I remember either the 2001 or the 1997. I think this will be a beauty in about 3 years...the tannins aren't bad but are a little prominent right now. Shafer doen't disappoint!
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1/20/2008 - mmyette wrote: 91 Points
Lots of berry fruit, not layered or complex, hoped for more from Shafer. Very tasty, but not profound.
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1/4/2008 - dwkamin wrote:
Drank this following a 2004 nickel & nickel suscol ranch merlot. where the N & N had distinct layers of oak and fruit, this had much riper fruit and was homogenous from start to finish with a subtle finish.
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1/1/2008 - lumbarpuncture wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful nose of cedar, blackberry fruit. Very little earthiness, plenty of cherries, chocolate, oak. Evolved wonderfully in the glass. Plenty of grip and structure throughout, wonderfully accompanying some flank steak. Had this with a 2003 Leonetti - I'm not sure which I'd pick again with price no object, but given the values I would go with Shafer every time.
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11/12/2007 - dfwmaverick wrote: 90 Points
Purchased with dinner at Fearing's in Dallas. Fruit forward, but not offensively so. Very nice finish. Enjoyed by all.
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11/6/2007 - kstoddard wrote: 91 Points
Bright cherry fruit. Earth, plumb and blueberry. Very firm tannins and noticeable oak. Rich monolithic finish with good acidity. Tight and young with a nice life ahead. 14.4% alcohol.
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10/26/2007 - green-steve wrote: 92 Points
Anyone who says they don't like Merlot needs to try this. Decanted for 1 hour. Nice deep purple color. Dark fruits on the nose and palate, balanced with good acitidy and fine tannins. Nice medium finish. Paired well with prime rib, mushroom risotto, and roasted asparagus. What a nice bottle of wine to share with our family. Will buy more if able.
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10/15/2007 - grapist wrote: 92 Points
Dark and lush. Still softening at four hours. Dark cherries, chocolate linger on the palate leaving a little pepper and vanilla going on for an unusually long finish. Quite elegant and still young. 92+
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10/12/2007 - GolferChris wrote: 93 Points
Hawaii Vacation Wines - Fall 2007; 10/4/2007-10/14/2007 (Big Island, Hawaii): A bit better than the last bottle due to a touch of bottle age. Lush, sweet, sexy fruit of berry, plum, exotic chocolate and french vanilla. This is a Cab Lovers merlot, big and ripe, but with well structured tannins and acidity to create seamless balance. Long, lush 30+ second finish.
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9/20/2007 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 92 Points
Frugal/First Steps Tasting (Nashville): Chalky rich fruit with earthy complexity; very nice; not a little merlot. Long finish with very pleasant chalky tannins displaying no bitterness at all. Yumm!
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9/19/2007 - dragoneggs wrote:
Purchased this wine and enjoyed with room service seafood meal in my hotel room. Probably not ideal for the food selection but after dinner it showed it's colors! Speaking of which, very dark almost black with purple edges in color (granted, low light of hotel room). Nose was light but pleasant note of black cherry, chocolate, and maybe a hint of vanilla. Initially a bit alcoholic but after dinner smoothed with pleasing tastes of sweet cherry, mocha, and again maybe some vanilla. Nice balanced fruit flavor with some barrel tones. Not something I would say as rememberable but a very easy drinking smooth Merlot. A bit expensive for Merlots these days I think but all in all quite pleasing to drink on its own.
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8/17/2007 - salil wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple/red hue in the glass. Rich flavours of plums, dark berries and vanilla resonate in the nose and mouth. This is rich and lush without being overconcentrated, with a silky smooth finish showing a little heat.
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5/16/2007 - JCaress wrote: 92 Points
Solid merlot. Good fruit, good finish. Simply a well made example of a wine from a consistent vintner. Boysenberry and black cherry notes.
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4/20/2007 - anacapa1 wrote: 92 Points
I find this to be a really good wine for the money, especially in Napa Merlot, considering it's decanted for an hour. Without air time, its a bit young and alcoholic, but it has the fruit forwardness. Very enjoyable, quite a mouthfeel after a bit of decanting or swirling. Very sweet, but also complex. Seems like a cab lover's merlot to me. I ended up buying 2 cases of it.
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3/27/2007 - pickhardt wrote: 90 Points
Buying this was a bit of a mistake on my part. I had it on my ideas list, but had decided against $40 for a merlot. Then somehow, I got confused and bought it anyway. I will say this, the 90 score reflects the QPR because if this was cheaper, the score would have been higher. This is really a very good wine with serious depth, fruit, and balance. Gayle said she never would have thought it was a merlot. A pleasure to drink, but probably not a repurchase for $40.
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3/12/2007 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
1st wine of 4.
Enjoyed with seafood salad, empanadas and baked palmetta cheese.
Bright lively cherry notes with chocolate, and very light spice.
Balanced finish.
Moderate low acidity and tannins.
Solid California Merlot every year.
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2/16/2007 - GolferChris wrote: 92 Points
Hawaii Vacation Wines; 2/10/2007-2/24/2007 (Big Island Hawaii): Ripe, almost sexy amounts of blackberry, plum, casis, bitter chocolate, and vanilla. Lush, hedonistic mouthfeel with mouthwatering acidity to balance the fruit. Long, lingering finish with a touch of mocha and sweet oak.
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2/3/2007 - gorm wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple/black color. Thick tainting stripes. Sweet and fruity nose of blackberries and raspberries. Full-bodied, very fat and low on acid. Crowdpleaser jam... but not too much. I didn't have high expectations, but I was actually quite pleased. Opened (but not decanted) 4 hours in advance.
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2/2/2007 - Tejano wrote: 88 Points
Dark rich purple in color with, even after decanting a hesitant and reserved nose that did have components of dark berries and a light aroma of dark chocolate. That chocolate also came thru on the palate with a very smooth entry and a medium grip of fruit. Very light structure and pleasant to drink, but no wow factor here. It did pair well with a grilled prime NY strip...
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12/31/2006 - thenapalist wrote: 93 Points
This wine is truly berry candy with mouthfuls of sweet vanilla, ripe cherries and white chocolate. Though sexy and smooth at the moment, it lacks the depth and structure needed to age for any extended period of time. Shafer continues to put out some of the finest, most refined merlots on the market.
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11/15/2006 - LC17SMP wrote: 91 Points
Well made wine. Hold for 6 months or so.
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10/24/2006 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
Classic Shafer Merlot. Tons of light berries. Smooth and silky. Went excellent with our leg of lamb and shrimp entrees. Sure to save my other bottles for later years as it will open up with time.
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10/5/2006 - Mark wrote: 88 Points
Tasting note from memory. A young fruit rich merlot, missing, however, an overall balance and concentration in fruit that I would expect at this point. While drinking fine now, I’m not sure it has the balance to age.. I’ve come to the conclusion that these merlots are better young than aged, I have not had many stellar examples of an older Shafer Merlot that has improved past three or so years.
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