Drank beautifully, seemed to have hit it at right at its peak. Not as complex as the very best wines, but the fruit, purity and balance were fantastic.
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Very deep dark-red with slightly lighter, brown edges. Beautiful rich colors! Intense aromas of ripe Dark Berries and Dark Chocolate. Dried Tomatoes paired with other secondary characteristics as Leather and Tar. Some Sweetness and Vanilla. What a nose! Powerful and complex. Rich flavours of ripe Cassis and Black Cherries. Traces of Cedar, Earth and some herbs. Plenty of depth and a long soft finish with Dark Fruits and some Pepper spiciness! Great complexity perfectly packed! Yes, I am a fan of Shafer wines, but this one was a real surprise! If somebody had told me I was drinking Hillside Select, I probably would have believed him. An impressive wine! Big and bold, but beautifully aged with perfect structure, proportions and complexity. For more details check out my Blog: cellartv.wordpress.com
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Tasted at Cellarmasters with the Saturday crowd. This was a big hit around the table! Beautiful bouquet of incense and spice with a hint of dust. Nice structure, medium bodied and well balanced wine that should drink well for years to come.
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Good bottle of wine but showing it's age. Nice perfume on the nose along with cherry, leather, anise and a whiff of bell pepper. Same carries over onto the palate, but the mouth feel was a little thin but a lot of acidity at the beginning. The vegetal notes blew off about hour 1 and the body gained a little strength as it opened up. Pleasant finish but a bit short.
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First pour was not very impressed. Double decanted and it did take some time to open up. Overall taste and smell were pleasant very 90s napa valley like - i.e. oaky with little red fruit on the back, medium bodied and tannins.
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Purchased from Shafer's Library at the Winery. This is definitely on the downside but still enjoyable, very nuanced fruit left but very balanced overall. A touch of heat on the finish in the back of the mouth at times. Drink Up.
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Decanted 30 minutes. Wine had a little funk on the nose upon opening but blew off during the decanting. Medium weight wine with smooth tannins. Some residual fruit flavors. An enjoyable wine worth the wait to drink.
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This bottle was a bit tired, not showing any real fruit. The taste and balance were very good though. Dark cherries, licorice, and some clay/earth texture and aromas.
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Great perfume on the full, open nose. Very floral with spice-filled red fruits. Medium bodied palate is silky with very fine, soft tannins and mature plush currant fruits. Acidity provides lift and persistence across the mid-palate into a flavorful, fresh finish. Really singing and fully mature. Quite nice.
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Quite red, somewhat dark, but getting light on the rim. Nose opened up nicely after about 45 minutes in the decanter -- it was more cherry-like than cassis and quite animalistic (meaty/leathery) with some spice and chocolate in the background. Its body was a little on the light side and the tannins were vitually gone. Nevertheless, it had a pleasant medium long finish with some intriguing complexity. I plan to drink up what remains pretty soon.
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The color was a deep red with a bit of lightening at the edge. The nose was full and open with pepper and raspberry fruit. Medium body with chocolate and blackcurrents. Resolved tannins and a lingering commodious finish. A delightful mouthfull. No need to wait on these any longer, I don't think they are going to get any better.
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10/5/2021 - Counselor Chris wrote:
Drank beautifully, seemed to have hit it at right at its peak. Not as complex as the very best wines, but the fruit, purity and balance were fantastic.
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7/13/2019 - mike l. Likes this wine: 93 Points
drank pre dodger game at dustins and it was exceptionally good. lovely fruit still in its window. excellent.
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1/4/2015 - Vinoevelo wrote:
Wine seemed very bland and one-dimensional. Hoping it was an off bottle. NR.
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4/5/2013 - WineCellarTV Likes this wine: 97 Points
Very deep dark-red with slightly lighter, brown edges.
Beautiful rich colors!
Intense aromas of ripe Dark Berries and Dark Chocolate. Dried Tomatoes paired with other secondary characteristics as Leather and Tar.
Some Sweetness and Vanilla.
What a nose! Powerful and complex.
Rich flavours of ripe Cassis and Black Cherries.
Traces of Cedar, Earth and some herbs. Plenty of depth and a long soft finish with Dark Fruits and some Pepper spiciness!
Great complexity perfectly packed!
Yes, I am a fan of Shafer wines, but this one was a real surprise!
If somebody had told me I was drinking Hillside Select, I probably would have believed him.
An impressive wine!
Big and bold, but beautifully aged with perfect structure, proportions and complexity.
For more details check out my Blog: cellartv.wordpress.com
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11/18/2012 - Gabe wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with my previous note and others as well. Time to drink up.
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8/14/2012 - jmottern wrote: 91 Points
Good nose and complex fruit. this wine is at its peak now
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6/2/2012 - jmottern wrote: 90 Points
Limited nose but complex fruit. The wine is declining so if you have this vintage then drink it now.
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4/3/2011 - TEKinsider wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at Cellarmasters with the Saturday crowd. This was a big hit around the table! Beautiful bouquet of incense and spice with a hint of dust. Nice structure, medium bodied and well balanced wine that should drink well for years to come.
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2/13/2011 - cabdrinker wrote:
The best of the 3 bottles I purchased. Fruit was balanced, remained in control throughout the entire evening. A little sweetness on the finish.
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1/2/2011 - cabdrinker wrote:
Much more vegetal this time around.
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11/6/2010 - cabdrinker wrote: 88 Points
Good bottle of wine but showing it's age. Nice perfume on the nose along with cherry, leather, anise and a whiff of bell pepper. Same carries over onto the palate, but the mouth feel was a little thin but a lot of acidity at the beginning. The vegetal notes blew off about hour 1 and the body gained a little strength as it opened up. Pleasant finish but a bit short.
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10/28/2010 - joishcru wrote: 82 Points
First pour was not very impressed. Double decanted and it did take some time to open up. Overall taste and smell were pleasant very 90s napa valley like - i.e. oaky with little red fruit on the back, medium bodied and tannins.
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10/15/2010 - psmith wrote:
1997 Stag's Leap Retrospective (Northbrook, IL): Ripe. Mature, with soft, well-resolved red fruits. Very nice. My 1, group 2.
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3/22/2010 - Gabe wrote: 90 Points
Purchased from Shafer's Library at the Winery. This is definitely on the downside but still enjoyable, very nuanced fruit left but very balanced overall. A touch of heat on the finish in the back of the mouth
at times. Drink Up.
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8/27/2009 - garetjax_kison wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. Wine had a little funk on the nose upon opening but blew off during the decanting. Medium weight wine with smooth tannins. Some residual fruit flavors. An enjoyable wine worth the wait to drink.
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2/14/2009 - zimmy07 wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was a bit tired, not showing any real fruit. The taste and balance were very good though. Dark cherries, licorice, and some clay/earth texture and aromas.
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5/31/2008 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Great perfume on the full, open nose. Very floral with spice-filled red fruits. Medium bodied palate is silky with very fine, soft tannins and mature plush currant fruits. Acidity provides lift and persistence across the mid-palate into a flavorful, fresh finish. Really singing and fully mature. Quite nice.
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3/19/2007 - Ricky99 wrote: 91 Points
Tasty, not the greatest but as expected a enjoyable bottle of wine ready to drink now.
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7/9/2006 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
Similar experience to previous bottle in March. Velvety soft mouthfeel with some nice complexity on nose and finish.
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3/20/2006 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
Quite red, somewhat dark, but getting light on the rim. Nose opened up nicely after about 45 minutes in the decanter -- it was more cherry-like than cassis and quite animalistic (meaty/leathery) with some spice and chocolate in the background. Its body was a little on the light side and the tannins were vitually gone. Nevertheless, it had a pleasant medium long finish with some intriguing complexity. I plan to drink up what remains pretty soon.
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6/1/2004 - PaulH wrote: 92 Points
The color was a deep red with a bit of lightening at the edge. The nose was full and open with pepper and raspberry fruit. Medium body with chocolate and blackcurrents. Resolved tannins and a lingering commodious finish. A delightful mouthfull. No need to wait on these any longer, I don't think they are going to get any better.
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