Drinking past its window, it has noticeable tertiary flavours (leather tobacco and a little anise and aromas while not at its best it is still enjoyable If you have any drink it soon Colour is still ruby ,
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Deep garnet. None of the funk of the last bottle. Cork was fairly dry but able to be removed (I have a humidity and Temp controlled cellar so I believe it is the cork used-may explain the wide range of opinions of this) This nose had the sweetness smelled in the HSS and anise and tobacco. Wonderful. Taste was all licorice with some hint of dried herbs. Beautiful
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orange garnet. Nose was off initially-kinda like a 40 yo poorly stored Bordeaux. Bottle stink I hoped. And with time it blew mostly off revealing an older Cab nose-forst floor, seasoned salt. Taste was muted and dull initially, but opened with time to show dreid herbs and a hint of plum. Drink up! (I don't think a bad bottle, but perhaps...) A while ago I went to a Shafer tasting where they had the HSS and the regular Cab from many years. It showed me that in great years the regular Cab was only a hair behind the HSS. Not, I hope, this time.
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PnP. Violet red, slight edge bricking. Deep red and black fruit aromas with crushed dried leaves, mint, integrated oak, spice. Palate features medium weighted fruit with some complexity, surprising acidity (expecting 'soft' style) that was just in balance, and line of firmish tannin. Decent length. Smile inducing for sure. Surprise 'find' while rummaging in cellar, but the uh-ho turned into an ah.
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Decanted and then poured. Dark, dark ruby color with a hint of purple . Solid all the way to the rim. Does not look like a 15 year old wine. Deep, hedonistic nose of beautiful french oak on the top, but just underneth are layers of ripe plum. dark cherry, anise and some damp earth. Full bodied but not gloppy at all. Flavors mirror the nose. Good acidity. Nice balance. Long finish, really delicious. Older school moderately priced California Cabernet at it's best. Great Wedsenday evening surpise.
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Awesome, the 96s are still the best of the 90s. Huge nose of current spice box and pencils. Great balance. The fruit is somewhat muted at this point but the flavors are complex and classic mature (but not old) Cabernet. Finish is long but probably the weakest part of the overall package.
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Very surprising. Still lots of fruit and good spice. Not at all what I expected from the reviews and given the age. Great balance and just a touch of the classic aged Cabernet character. Some floral notes- the chef at the place we were eating said hibiscus. Becoming more earthy with time.
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Shafer Hillside Select Vertical (Zealous - Chicago, IL): Deep dark ruby with a bright, concentrated nose of dark currants, herbs and cedar. In the mouth ... WOW! Currants and dark chocolate blow up in the mouth. Substantial fine tannins integrate with bright fruits. Seamless through an impressively long finish. 5+14+19+9=97
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Alas, the last of my 96 Shafer, surprisingly, I think I kept it a little too long. A little low on fruit and light in the middle palette. Finish ends short with a distinct herbaceous streak. The first hour it drank fine but then started to fall apart with the herb element becoming more central. Don’t wait on this one, it’s done.
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11/21/2020 - KJBC Likes this wine:
Drinking past its window, it has noticeable tertiary flavours (leather tobacco and a little anise and aromas while not at its best it is still enjoyable
If you have any drink it soon
Colour is still ruby ,
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4/26/2017 - mitchiez wrote: 92 Points
Aged beautifully- everything one could ask for in good California cab.
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5/30/2014 - john@draneaslaw.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasty, good with wood grilled steak. No tannin. Medium finish. A little over the hill Good entry and fruit. Very smooth.
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2/24/2013 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet. None of the funk of the last bottle. Cork was fairly dry but able to be removed (I have a humidity and Temp controlled cellar so I believe it is the cork used-may explain the wide range of opinions of this) This nose had the sweetness smelled in the HSS and anise and tobacco. Wonderful. Taste was all licorice with some hint of dried herbs. Beautiful
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7/4/2012 - AlexHop wrote: 89 Points
Nice. Not great balance- a bit of a bite. Fruit is mostly gone, but still pretty solid.
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9/25/2011 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 86 Points
orange garnet. Nose was off initially-kinda like a 40 yo poorly stored Bordeaux. Bottle stink I hoped. And with time it blew mostly off revealing an older Cab nose-forst floor, seasoned salt. Taste was muted and dull initially, but opened with time to show dreid herbs and a hint of plum. Drink up! (I don't think a bad bottle, but perhaps...) A while ago I went to a Shafer tasting where they had the HSS and the regular Cab from many years. It showed me that in great years the regular Cab was only a hair behind the HSS. Not, I hope, this time.
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9/25/2011 - thomaskeil wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Violet red, slight edge bricking. Deep red and black fruit aromas with crushed dried leaves, mint, integrated oak, spice. Palate features medium weighted fruit with some complexity, surprising acidity (expecting 'soft' style) that was just in balance, and line of firmish tannin. Decent length. Smile inducing for sure. Surprise 'find' while rummaging in cellar, but the uh-ho turned into an ah.
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2/16/2011 - djs wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and then poured. Dark, dark ruby color with a hint of purple . Solid all the way to the rim. Does not look like a 15 year old wine. Deep, hedonistic nose of beautiful french oak on the top, but just underneth are layers of ripe plum. dark cherry, anise and some damp earth. Full bodied but not gloppy at all. Flavors mirror the nose. Good acidity. Nice balance. Long finish, really delicious. Older school moderately priced California Cabernet at it's best. Great Wedsenday evening surpise.
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1/30/2011 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of mint, chocolate and dark fruit. Lush, velvety tannins with abundant dark fruit on the palate. Nice finish.
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5/7/2010 - AlexHop wrote: 93 Points
Awesome, the 96s are still the best of the 90s. Huge nose of current spice box and pencils. Great balance. The fruit is somewhat muted at this point but the flavors are complex and classic mature (but not old) Cabernet. Finish is long but
probably the weakest part of the overall package.
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10/9/2009 - AlexHop wrote: 93 Points
Very surprising. Still lots of fruit and good spice. Not at all what I expected from the reviews and given the age. Great balance and just a touch of the classic aged Cabernet character. Some floral notes- the chef at the place we were eating said hibiscus. Becoming more earthy with time.
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1/2/2008 - mellison wrote: 92 Points
At its peak. Slightly acidic but plenty of fruit and fairly smooth
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1/11/2007 - Nanda wrote: 97 Points
Shafer Hillside Select Vertical (Zealous - Chicago, IL): Deep dark ruby with a bright, concentrated nose of dark currants, herbs and cedar. In the mouth ... WOW! Currants and dark chocolate blow up in the mouth. Substantial fine tannins integrate with bright fruits. Seamless through an impressively long finish. 5+14+19+9=97
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12/30/2005 - Mark wrote: 87 Points
Alas, the last of my 96 Shafer, surprisingly, I think I kept it a little too long. A little low on fruit and light in the middle palette. Finish ends short with a distinct herbaceous streak. The first hour it drank fine but then started to fall apart with the herb element becoming more central. Don’t wait on this one, it’s done.
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7/4/2004 - Hillel wrote: 89 Points
A little weak on the start but a small bite kicks in mid-palate. Enjoyable.
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