Like some of the other recent reviews, I too was worried that this was a bit over the hill but found that was absolutely not the case. The wine has a beautifully aged medium/light red brick color, showing both life and maturity at the same time. Nose is all secondary elements at this point: tobacco, cedar, with perhaps some dark fruits lurking in the background. Tannins, though clearly on the downslope, are still present, a very nice surprise that nicely elongated the finish. Elements of blue fruit, charcoal and cigar smoke round it out nicely. I'd say that it's approaching the end of it's ideal drinking window, but in fairness, some other drinkers thought that 5 years ago. Also worth noting that at current release prices (~$100) it offers relatively good value among California equivalent offerings.
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Bereits nach dem Öffnen sofort präsent. Tiefes dunkles Rot vereint Fruchtnoten von Heidelbeeren, Schwarzkirsche und Waldfrüchte. Leder, etwas Kaffee und schöne Erdaromen begleiten einen schönen Abgang.
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Well integrated... nice nose with cherry notes and rich blue fruits; palate was similar with a little leather and earthiness on the finish. Tannins were fine grained... a little "dusty". Overall very enjoyable.
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This silky beauty is in a very good place right now, a wonderfully smooth and expressive vervet fog of a dar k cassis and milk chocolate covered cherries. Really beautiful oak integration,with a creamy and sweet cedar mid palate and such soft tannins. It's got some laser sharp focus right, and with a subtle acidity the finish is long and expressive. I think it has several good years ahead of it, but it's so nice right now I wouldn't wait to find out if it can.
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We wanted to open a special bottle for our 3rd anniversary, so we went with a bottle purchased during our honeymoon. While visiting Shafer vineyards, the 2004 One Point Five was their cellar selection, purchased for $95. Once the cork was popped, the aromas were immediately evident. Let it breathe for 1 hour in a decanter. On the nose were notes of blue and black fruits, sandalwood, forest floor and an almost perfume like aroma. Flavors of blackberry, licorice, dark chocolate and earth with a finish that lasted 40 seconds. This wine took me back to our visit to Shafer vineyards and I cannot wait to go back.
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Ready to go after just a little air. Smooth and seamless, with lots of dark cherry throughout and rather more elegance than I expected. Tannins are fine and unobtrusive but still have plenty of grip. Delightful.
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Decanted off its sediment an served immediately. Mouthwatering aromas of grilled meat, cassis, blueberry, dried tobacco, sage, and cedar. Smooth and polished on the palate, with resolved tannins and excellent acidity. The finish does peter out, however. Nonetheless, this a very nice wine to be enjoyed with a steak. Fully mature and ready to go; there's really no need to hold it any longer.
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Worthy of the Shafer label and drinking well right now. Great flavor, balance and depth. Unclear why community has window ending this year. Good for a few more.
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Still very amazing. Busted a cork, but, still a great wine. Opened up with an appealing aroma of blackberry. Well balanced with smooth tannins that are supported with the deep flavors of fresh cherry, blackberry and a hint spice. As a full-bodied wine. Other than the cork... Amazing wine!
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That kind of day. Just had to pull one out. Since our last bottle and my subsequent tasting note, the only differences with this offering were a perfect cork and fully integrated tannins. Absolutely Beautiful grape.
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Like another reviewer, the cork on my bottle crumbled as well. that made decanting a must. I was totally blown away with the magnitude of this wine. Bold rich fruit with solid but balanced tannins. The lingering spice notes to carry the finish to a long and enriching end. Would expect this wine to last many more years, if only I had more....
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Probably at its peak right now. Beautiful berry, cigar box, black olive, cocoa notes on the nose, and in the mouth its all integrated and powerful. Tannins are resolved/resolving, but there's still great structure. Long, fine finish. Loved it.
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Was worried by an earlier review this might be waning so we opened a bottle tonight. The cork disintegrated so I decanted, but otherwise the wine was superb, rife with deep and complex aromas and flavors of dark fruit and spices. Tannins still had presence, but softly, so my take is this vintage still has a ways to run. All is right with the world once more.
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Double decanted for three hours and tasted blind initially. Moderate nose, black fruit, a touch of earth, medium body, medium acidity, saturated dark fruit on the attack, finishes a bit weak though. This fell a bit short for me.
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One and one half Shafers? I think we get the best of both of them, name said. Currently out drinking the Hillside, altho I don't expect ( and hope since we have the hillside ) that to be the end result, this is a very well made, and distinctive, napa cab with a ways to go.
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Big napa, drinking very well now, nice feel on palate, some of the California in your face quality, but not over the top, more complex than fruit bomb. Thanks Doug.
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Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, spice and oak. Similar flavors, along with blackcurrant and hints of chocolate. The tannins seem pretty much resolved and soft. A velvety texture in the mouth. Rich and fairly intense. Good structure and well balanced. A medium to long finish.
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Black cherry, graphite, waxy aromatic w a touch of scorched earth - quite fresh w good fruit purity. The fruit is a little too forward which surprised me - very enjoyable
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Occasional dinner group; Bordeaux 2003 plus some extras.: Beautiful bouquet with a lot of chocolate and sweetness and ripe dark cherries and some eucalyptus. On the palate ripe dark forest fruits and dark cherries as well. A lot of sweetness. Chocolate and eucalyptus. Soft and friendly acidity and tannin. Mild bitterness. The alcohol shows. Overall a beautiful, friendly and soft wine. Ready now and certainly for another few years.
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Surprisingly unpleasant at first… musty and a bit sour. Not undrinkable, but not all that enjoyable. Seemed to come together after about an hr, and was fine with dinner, though a bit disappointing overall. Strangely, we’re finding the 1.5’s we are opening from the cellar to be very hit or miss right now. Not sure if best to drink young, or just a bit unlucky with a couple bottles.
Drank on a Valentines day dinner with 2 other couples. (met my wife in 04') Classic 04 cab in every sense. If your a fan of this vintage, it will not disappoint. Tons of blackberry and cassis flavors with a smooth oak finish. Impeccible balance and mouthfeel. Very extracted...opaque. Exceeded expectations on every level and a total crowd pleaser. Paired with filet mignon and NY strip.
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Decanted 2 hours (sediment and some aeration benefit). Deep violet red. Not particularly aromatically expressive. Does show dark cherry, mocha, oak spices. Palate starts out with almost thick fruit, then smooth, soft tannins express along with a tiny dose of acidity. Creamy, smooth texture. Not complex or finesseful. Pleasant to good. Nice match for grilled NY strip. Plenty of time left, but see no reason to further cellar.
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Really nice wine for the price. Lots of body with rich cassis flavor. A certain smokiness and some vanilla. Good structure and finish. Had this as an end of evening bonus selection.
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Dark red. Purchased 6 at release and stored at 55. If I remember, first year of 1.5 replacing Cab. Sauvignon name on the bottle. Good father- son story on the new name. This needs some open time as you would expect from a Shafer Cab. As a Cali Cab this is a solid 93 pts. Nice nose of dark fruits, coffee. So rich and structured, but not overly "fruity" as you would expect from Shafer. Balanced long finish with soft but notiicable tannins and hints of spicy tobacco. Maturing nicely with 5 to 10 years left.
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We were underwhelmed. Maybe our expectations were too high, but this was a ho-hum Napa cab. Decanted for 1 hour and consumed over the next 3, the nose was a nice combo of leather, mocha and oak but virtually no fruit. The disappointment lie with the taste, the oak and vanilla dominated the fruit and some nice spice undertones that we picked up. The finish is very smooth with very little tannic grip left. It was a good wine, but I expect more from this classic producer in a decent vintage.
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Shafer always delivers a good wine. I have had this many times along the way, and it is drinking beautifully right now. Still has fruit, but there has been a nice development of complexity and spice that put a smile on our faces.
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Purchased this 5 years ago after sommelier recommendation; first Shafer wine for me. No formal notes. Opened and decanted for an hour, but it took another hour for this wine to really open up then enjoyed over a couple of hours. Big fruit and super smooth. Characteristics of typically top-level Napa Cab. Would definitely seek out other vintages.
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- Garnet color with fast forming legs - My last 04. Different but as good or better than the first. less fruit but very smooth integrated tannins. Very nice finish
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Just simply a house favorite. Quite ironic because we tend to strongly prefer nuance and/or complexity and One Point Five has never really shown us any of either. It is just simply a velvety smooth, soothing old friend. Tonight we PnP and enjoyed with yuppie fast food burgers, and lingered over it for another 2+ hrs. Rich mouthfeel, medium-plus length. This was our last 04 and all of them were in an excellent place to enjoy - from 2008 through today. I wouldn't expect any further evolution so, start enjoying them soon (though clearly the 04s won't die in your cellar in 2014....)
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Tasted blind-- Big fruit on the nose, Big and sweet fruit on the palate, but with good tannins, finish get a little more complex, probably even better with some more age.
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this was a wonderful cab. great nice selection good color a little hot at first but bellowed right out. this was great with the big piece of prime rib I was eating.
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Shafer has always made consistent Cab blends and this is another. Decanted 3+ hours, then double decanted back into the bottle. Dark crimson red in the glass, with only a little light passing. Strong Black and Blue berry fruit on the nose, but the Vanilla Oak is the most pervasive part of profile. The rich berry and vanilla fruit on attack, gives way to chocolate, leather, and spice. This has some nice secondary flavors, but we felt the full fruit was not giving way yet. Maybe another year in the cellar would help to coax out a bit more fruit? Either way, this is a strong Napa Cab, from wine family that puts out consistently strong bottles.
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Sweet, big. Easily identifiable as a Napa. Not terribly over the top though. Pretty simple and lacks much complexity to balance out the full-bodied flavors.
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2011 Casual Session - 9 @ ES (Extra Space Boon Keng): Alcohol :: 14.9% Served with Riedel O Bordeaux. Decanted for 2.5hrs. Purplish dark red. The aromas is focus and deep, but also quite heavy with vanilla oak dominated along with spices and bitter chocolate. Big, slight alcohol with very heavy weight, almost brutal power that attacking the palate with its huge concentration of sweet dark fruits and oak that completely buffer the tannin. Despite of the strong mid palate profile, the finish is slightly disjointed with medium length, bitter chocolate aftertaste. Need many more years to come around. Buy - No - Maybe.
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Dark, intense, and concentrated. Secondary flavors, including chocolate, tobacco, and charcoal predominate over fruit flavors. Has the acidity and tannins to suggest that it will get even better as it mellows out a bit more over the next few years.
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Left to breathe in the bottle for about 3 hours. Very similar to the last bottle i had a couple of months ago except this seemed a little better. Very smooth and lush in the mouth. Very well balanced with clean, focused black and red fruits. Long finish with integrated tannins. This is not a powerhouse but is a great example of a restrained cabernet with lots of elegance while still providing plenty of depth. Should reamain at this level for several years.
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Pop and Pour. Dark deep purple in color with that classic deep purple, cassis blue and black fruit profile that has made Shafer famous. In the mouth all the flavors continued from the nose with a touch of sweet tannins to finish. Not sure where this will go but it's drinking nicely right now. I'll save my others to try down the road to see where this takes itself. A pretty nice bargain for the price for a great Napa wine even if its not the Hillside Select.
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Not decanted but left to air for about 2 hours. Very dark purple color with lots of cassis on the nose with a little mint. Smooth and full bodied with a silky texture. Plenty of black and red fruit and a medium length finish with soft tannins. Very good and drinking very well right now.
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Right in the zone for this style tonight, so on another night this could be a 90-91, but feeling it tonight as I wanted a great Napa Cab, velvety smooth with silky lush fruits.
Color: Dark, red edges
Nose: Caramel, chocolate cake, blackberry and blueberry, cedar, and earth, a little terroir is peeking out.
Palate: Lush and full up front, yet the mid-palate maintains the style with finesse and the finish is clean and rather pure. I think another year and this will be 94 pts, it will get better. The finish funnels into the acidity and mostly tannins that are up there but seem to be mellowing, not as silky as I would expect from a Stag's Leap wine.
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This was tasty as always. Great dark fruit flavors that have integrated nicely with the oak. There is nothing to complain about with this wine and it was a perfect pairing with steak, mac and cheese and broccolini. One bottle left and I will try and hold off for a while.
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Opened 1 hour prior to drinking. This is the 5th of these I've had and they're consistently outstanding in line with WS's rating. I just do not see what Parker has against this offering. He over rates the Hillside Select and underrates these year after year.
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Dark red to rim. Forward nose, cassis, dark berries, some earth and tar. Full bodied, smooth palate feel, rich ripe fruit, cassis, berry/cherry, well-integrated tannins, nice finish. Excellent to outstanding.
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Clean cabernet nose, lots of berries..Tannins are well integrated..close to prime drinking..2-5 years... well structured..perhaps underrated by the pros...14.9% alcohol but not hot. Very nice napa cab, lovely vanilla and leather...better than the first bottle of 04 I opened pre-Cellartracker...if you have some 04 crack one and post...love to hear others thoughts
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This bottle showed very well. A dark purple color in the glass; a touch of heat; dark, bright fruit, some tobacco, and earth; very nice weight on the palate; tannins have started to integrate very well; medium-long finish. I believe that this will continue to improve over the next 2-3 years, and should drink well for another 5-6 years.
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Big, luscious and so 'new world', it's over the top for sure, but works with hunks of beef, still feels a bit 'hot' and not as integrated as it may be in a few years, but once again perfect for the occasion - Black, full bodied with a nose of extreme plum, cherry, tar, cedar and vanilla, well made, huge, complex and just a touch 'hot' needing a few more years to integrate perhaps, very tasty, sweet and smooth on the palate with excellent length, fabulous! (92 Points).
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Continues to get better as it gets older. Rich and full, with a long finish and lots of tannins. Great with a thick steak, opened for a couple hours but not decanted.
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Decanted and immediately drunk over 2 hrs. Purple color that lightens at the edges. About 90 mins into this, oak and blueberry are the primarily discernible aromas. Medium-light in weight, this is very approachable today and is dark-fruit dominant but without the fine tannins or the heavier weight that you typically find in the HSS series, making me wonder how long the shelf-life is of this. In any event, its drinking great today and I'd buy a few more bottles for short-term drinking if found at a good price.
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Night 1 notes: definitely started off dead. Subdued and a bit boring. Became to get earthier and a bit more interesting with air. kind of a jack of all trades cab. Nice balance, solid structure, but missing a bit if complexity to make it really top notch. 91ish? 90-91+. Less upon open. Night 2: still a bit boring, though well made. Not much upside, just very good. Decent oak.
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Had this with steaks. Really outstanding, improved quite a bit since I last drank a bottle. Did not need decanting at all. Smooth, full, and totally delightful. Both other parties at the dinner concurred.
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Fairly unremarkable Cali cab. Had some 2003 Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux this week which were very similar and cost a third the price. Smooth plush tannins. Drink up.
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Opened the bottle and went to get Chinese. Took 45 minutes to go the 4 miles to the restaurant (got to love the Merritt). Ended up pouring the first glass an hour after opening so didn't bother to decant. It just keeps getting better bottle after bottle. Black fruit dominates with earthy notes. Complex flavor profile in a full bodied wine with a great, long finish. Very smooth.
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Johnny brought into Scoozi for dinner. Nice defined California styled Cab. Showing great dark blackberries, blueberries and cherries. Some nice earthiness with dark cigar box and truffle aromas. Palate is ultra rich, and after the Merus this seemed like a weaker bottling than it actually was. Still very nice. Glad I have one in the cellar.
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Tasted at an off-line event. Dark purple color. Big dark fruit, toasted oak, chocolate notes on the nose. More of the same on the palate with some cassis and vanilla flavors as well. Strong tannins, a touch hot on the back end indicate to me that this wine needed some decanting or additional bottle time. Long finish and overall a really well done cabernet. This wine was also drank toward the end of the night and palate fatigue may have set in.
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In prime time tasting! Oak and tannins mellowed from first bottle last year. Big vanilla, dark, rich blackberry fruit. Finish lingered on for what seemed like 10 minutes. Paired with southwestern flank steak. Superb, top bottling I've drank from Shafer!
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Lots of fruit on the nose with some coffee bean and even a bit of greenness. Tasted after about an hour in the decanter and very disappointed with the heat from the alcohol - felt like drinking vodka! And the tannins felt bitter and tight. However, by the 3rd hour the wine finally opened up and got very pretty and much more typical napa cabernet but still very, very refined. Advice is to really decant this one for a while....
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Bought and cellared on release. Decanted 45 minutes. Very dark. A classic, predictable west-coast offense - big california fruit bomb. Black fruits, menthol, sweet, and too soft. Alcohol is prominent, extraction and concentration overwhelm the reference to a venerable Napa commune. "Stags Leap District" is on the label, but it would be difficult to attribute this wine to any specific vineyard or commune. It is big. $55-65... would recommend other options at this price range.
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Smooth juicy Cali Cab. Nothing special, very fruit forward with little in the way of supporting tannins or acidity. Probably best as a wine to serve later in the evening when everyone's senses are a bit dulled and tasting notes are minimal.
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This is my (naive) definition of a Napa Cab....very nice aromas of dark fruit on the nose....taste: huge fruit forward, and long finish with harmonious balance. Not too tanic, but seems to have enough to cellar another 10 years. One of our all time favs.
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D and I had gone to Shafer winery last summer for a great tour/tasting and it was time to try one of my bottles in honor of that. Decanted for 1 1/2 hours. Very concentrated nose of black currant, other dark fruits and vanilla. Initially, the tannins were still strong but mellowed and integrated over the next hour. Ended up with a concentrated taste of blackberry, cherry, vanilla in a silky body with a medium length finish. In fact, the lack of a long finish was the only disappointment with this bottle. Very happy with how its performing right now.
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vanilla mingles with red currant and spiced cherries. Sweet oaked influence. A bit hot on the palate. med length and a repeat of the vanilla and spiced cherries on the palate. Solid new world vino.
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Simple, but very outgoing, smooth and luxurious. The oak is indiscernible under the layers of dark fruit, chocolate and licorice, and just a little bit of heat emerges on the finish. At this price, it appears you're paying for texture and sheen rather than complexity. A fun, albeit expensive, cabernet.
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Deep purple. Raw meat aromas gradually fading on aeration. Dark fruits, cassis and mineral aromas develop instead. A very complex and attractive nose. Full bodied, almost oily with intensive sweetness and delicate tannins. Super-concentrated fruit, partially balanced by the acidity. Long finish. A typical stag's leap cab, whose main drawback is its limited ability to match with food. Still a great choice for the non-food wine drinker.
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Had it at a dinner party. It had been opened ~1 hour before I got there. Profile of smooth dark fruit, elegant tannins but the short finish davidandrose mentioned in his review. The depth was also short. An outstanding Cab - wish it was closer to $50/bottle.
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Decanted for 90 minutes. Dark purple color; very floral nose with gobs of blackberry, currant, and sweet vanilla oak. Very lithe on the palate with sturdy, well-integrated tannins. I picked up a hint of green pepper on the finish. A very well-made wine that should slightly improve over the next 2-3 years.
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Drank against the '01 Napa Etude & a '96 La Jota Anniversary Cab. After decanting for an hour the Shafer was even better than the last time I tried it. This has everything that you look for in a California Cab. I can see this improving in another year, but I doubt I'll wait that long before trying another. My WOTN. (93-95)
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Had on of these over the weekend. I agree with davidand rose on this one. It was very good for me, but something was missing. If "it" were there, it could be a great wine. Maybe it was a lack of complexity? Not that it wasn't complex, but it could've had more. I enjoyed this very much though, but it wasn't as "fun" and easy to drink as I had hoped, but unfortunately, it seems if you want a great napa cab now, you have to pay more that $100.
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Decanted and allowed to sit for 60 mins. Really needed 2-3 hours before the wine really opened up, and at that point had a wonderful profile of dark fruit, elegant tanins, but a finish just too short for what I expect from a $65+ bottle. Still earns a 92-93 points in my book, and has the potential to add a point from its pure flavor....its just the depth and length of finish that are presently lacking in an otherwise absolutely outstanding calicab.
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Decanted 2 hours. Very cherry with vanilla and mocha. Nice. Did well next to a '95 Alion, but is was no match as the Alion had depth and complexity that this was lacking.
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This is a new world feeling wine with black fruits, berries with flowers, and chocolate. Rich and weighty on the palate with soft tannins and a touch of acidity. Very fruity on the nose and a dark purple color. The wine had some good hang time on the finish and was not bitter. This wine was crisp and clean with a refreshing feel which to me gave it a very new world feel. Overall good quality and balance.
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4th of July Blowout (Chez Rick): Oh boy...didn't like this at all. Searing acidity and weird roasted flavor profile. Did not seem over-oaked, but it was disjointed and completely out of balance. This is what I don't like about so many CA Cabs these days. What were the Shafer's thinking? (I've had a number of HSS wines and they've all been very good).
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Tasted at my friends store. After decanting for three hours the last couple of glasses were the best of the day. Powerful fruit aromas, slightly off balance in the mouth, with fruit dominating the palate. Smooth mouthfeel with an enormously long finish, which I was still tasting later that evening. Could use another year in the cellar. (93-95)
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Decanted for 2 + hours, excellent boquet. Flawless, long taste. One of the best Cabs going, like melted butter! I'm looking forward to tasting the '05.
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Lovely wine, but quite young and aggressive. The bottle we drank had been decanted for hours, and tannins still overwhelmed. Following an aged Bordeaux, this was a bit jarring, but the wine softened a bit in the glass as our palates adjusted, and it held its own quite nicely. I would stock this as a superior cab to pull out for guests who appreciate better wines, but not in the hope of a life-altering experience. Still, who knows in a few years?
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We decanted this for about 4 hours. The nose was muted. The color was black. On the palate, the wine was cherry, smooth, but with not much depth. Pleasant, with no negatives, but not very memorable. All-in-all, not bad. The 2004 Relentless was much better.
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We brought this to a friend's 50th Birthday dinner 2 days ago. No notes taken. Decanted two hours, rebottled, and brought to the party. The winewas lush with a full mouth feel of wonderful fruit. The long finish had distinct notes of caramel and chocolate.
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I had a half bottle of this fine cabernet (2004), at Jacksonville Inn with a dinner of prime rib, Oregon coastal mushrooms. It was excellent with a fine nose of black cherry and loam. The taste is fruit up front with a tannins flavored long finish it holds it own against a fine meal. The taste is blackberry, and long oak and cabernet tannins. You can taste oak barrels and age can’t imagine how this wine would not get better and better with age.
I had another bottle of it at Peterson Steak House in Indianapolis the September with Filet Mignon. This wine was as before but I did notice how much it changes with steak. The meat brings out the flavor of the wine i n wonderful and exceptional ways. It sweetens the tannins and fruit and create totally new effect. This wine stands well on its own but with fine beef is an outstanding offering
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Had with a fat piece of red meat. There was a bit of heat on the finish at first but that blew off with time. When it did finally open up it was completely balanced and delicious. Definitely a fantastic wine.
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The nose on this wine is very good with biting nail polish[in a good way], cherry liquer with brandy cream. Also, there are notes of menthol, pine cone, chloraform, cinammon and cedar. The concentration is gigantic. It is very rich and paint like, but elegant at the same time. This wine could be aired for twelve hours. This wine is extremely deep with good acidity and cedar. Time may make this even better. It also has a great finish. My rating=95/Angie=94.
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Full opaque red/purple color. Big candied ripe boysenberry jammy nose. Mmmmn, big rich jammy sweet black fruit with a long coffee finish and some spiciness.
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Blind tasting of 'Wow' wines at Ken's (Northbrook, IL): Dark red-purple in colour. Stunning nose shows spice, rich dark fruits and cherry flavours and some savoury earthy notes. More dark fruits and berries follow on the palate over notes of spice and vanilla with smooth tannins, lifting acidity and a long finish.
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Decanted 90 minutes. Deep violet red. Huge nose of cherries and cassis with spicey oak, vanilla and mocha. Lush, rather soft palate with little acidity and 'easy' structure. Very tasty wine that got mixed reviews with rack of lamb. Some at the table were ga-ga, others thought it a bit fruity and not balanced. Clearly well-made and enjoyable and no need to age.
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From a .375 size bottle: Deep, dense ruby red color with a hue of purple throughout. A HUGE floral nose immediately upon pouring, this blew off over the next 30 minutes, to reveal lush aromas of black currant, cedar, spice box and some fig. Bodied tannins in the beginning opened to allow the wine's several layers to integrate over the next couple of hours to reveal a very lush, plush, fruity Cabernet. Full mouth feel with medium length, full body finish. Not a brick house but a wine with a solid back bone. Potential exists for another point or two with several more years in the cellar. While this Cab may not move your soul, it will get your attention.
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Hawaii Vacation Wines - Fall 2007; 10/4/2007-10/14/2007 (Big Island, Hawaii): Another great effort from Shafer, this wine showcases the elegance of the Stags Leap District fruit with big, ripe, rich fruit and well intergrated, velvety, round tannins. Tons of cherry, black currant, spice and vanilla. Decanted for 45 minutes, this wine really opened up and softened to an elegant, supple mouthfeel. Long, lingering wonderful finish.
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Plush, ultra-ripe and fun to drink. This Cab maybe lacks a little depth but more than makes up for it with layers and layers of silky dark fruit and lush oak. I enjoy this wine with lamb and despite its youth, the wine is very accessible. I would buyagain and enjoy over the next few years.
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Dark red/purple. Sweet and nice primary nose of blackcurrants. Full-bodied with fine, but dusty tannins and good intensity, medium length. Blackcurrant, spicy oak, a bit of coffee and hints of smoke. Less sweet and jammy than many Napa Cabs, almost drinks like a modern 3rd Growth Bordeaux. A very nice Cabernet indeed, but given my previous experiences with Shafer I would have expected a bit more personality. Maybe it will come with time. 92+.
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Paid $45 for this at the New Scenic Cafe located on the Scenic North Shore drive of Lake Superior. Every Wednesday night is half price wine night. What a deal! Such a good deal we also tasted it next to a Smith Madrone 2001, for which we paid $35! The Shafer was the winner even though it was still a little too young.
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was really looking forward to trying this since ive enjoyed the shafer relentless a couple times. this was such a disappointment. oaky and some syrah like spice and pepper but not much finish and it just fell flat. bummer.
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Simple Napa Cab flight @ Adam's (Adam's in Toronto): Full on rich fruit and vanilla nose with a silky smooth rounded palate that went on for a good while. Nicely layered with distinct caramel notes, very deep. Drinking quite well despite its youth, but it will benefit from some time in the cellar.
(C/O Jason)
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Cheese, shrimp, steaks on the grill. Had 3 bottles tonight with friends. 2001 Beringer Private Reserve, 2004 Caymus, and 2004 Shafer One Point Five. Shafer blew the other two away.
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Beautiful wine, precise fruit on top of some hefty tannins that are well concealed. Deep red rasberry, some tobacco. Well integrated oak, just pure lucious oozing fruit. This wine is a winner.
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Two hours of decanting required. Still, it’s big and relatively closed overall, this one will need some more time. Nose of dark rich cherry, licorice, kirsch, vanilla and clear oak. Very fruity, with coffee grounds and some espresso in the mouth. Firm tannins with a medium length finish trailing to toasted almond nut. A big lacking in integration, something that I think (hope) will med over time, there is a clear fruit component but it’s a bit detached from the rest of the wine. Good, but not seamless.
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On the nose very complex, asparagus, liqourice, blackberry and cuyrrant. Firm tannins, great balance between components. I like this much more than Hillside for its price point. This is a more restrained wine to me. Just beautiful balance between all elements. On the palate flavors of liqourice, dark cherry and spice. Great Wine
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Excellent, but a very commercial Stag's Leap taste. Very clean, but nothing special. A bit heavy on the oak, lots of red fuit. This wine has replaced the Shafer "Napa Valley," which was a better wine for a few $$ less.
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Decanted and just started right in. While the wine opened with a nice floral boquet, early flavors showed a lot of green stems. About 2hrs after opening this started to come together nicely. This will do well, and clearly needs some time sitting in the cellar.
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Medium dark ruby color leads to a classic nose of currant, black cherry and vanilla. The lush body carries these flavors forward. The finish is extremely long. A very enjoyable bottle of wine.
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Chalk another one up for Shafer. This was the first bottle to disappear in our Thursday night tasting and it was likely the cheapest. Beautiful flowery nose of dark fruits right out of the bottle. A bit fruity but silky smooth and not overly tannic. Not overly complex and I don't know how it will do over time but VERY enjoyable now so who cares. Loved this wine.
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I thought this was a fantastic wine. Excellent, powerful nose throughout the evening. Really softened as it opened up over an hour. Complimented everything from the bread and olive oil to the bacon-wrapped scallops to the crab-stuffed portabello. Awesome now and I'm sure will only get better with age. Time to cellar a few bottles.
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Took a little while too open but after about 30 minutes in the decanter this wine started to reveal itself. Gooey gobs of dark chocolate covered cherries...this wine aims to please and delivers...a deft touch of oak, that is not quite yet integrated, adds another layer of enjoyment and should resolve over time.
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Consumed with the famous peppercorn steak at Brooklyn. Seemed to be a hit with the team, but probably because this wine is very accessible with low tannins and good fruit. Will pick up another or two, but honestly, I think their "regular" Cabernet is better.
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At a tasting at the Wine Club SF. Quick notes: lots of dark fruit, a great body weight on the palate with a dry finish. Very good. This was my #3 wine of the flight with the Chappellet Pritchard Hill #2 and the Von Strasser Diamond Mtn #1.
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enfanticide! sweet cooked cabbage, juicy -- very dense electric purple, stains the glass and colored to the edge. A little grape juicy -- very fine tannins but not lacking structure. touch of cocoa powder, sugarbeet, cherry. Oh, this is going to be good!
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5/6/2021 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Like some of the other recent reviews, I too was worried that this was a bit over the hill but found that was absolutely not the case. The wine has a beautifully aged medium/light red brick color, showing both life and maturity at the same time. Nose is all secondary elements at this point: tobacco, cedar, with perhaps some dark fruits lurking in the background. Tannins, though clearly on the downslope, are still present, a very nice surprise that nicely elongated the finish. Elements of blue fruit, charcoal and cigar smoke round it out nicely. I'd say that it's approaching the end of it's ideal drinking window, but in fairness, some other drinkers thought that 5 years ago. Also worth noting that at current release prices (~$100) it offers relatively good value among California equivalent offerings.
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1/5/2021 - Timk257 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rummaging through the gift bin and worried I’d let this go too long. Nope. A wine for grown-ups who prefer balance. Enjoy.
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7/26/2020 - Paul Lin wrote: flawed
Corked.
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6/5/2020 - Sir-Harrie wrote: 91 Points
Bereits nach dem Öffnen sofort präsent. Tiefes dunkles Rot vereint Fruchtnoten von Heidelbeeren, Schwarzkirsche und Waldfrüchte. Leder, etwas Kaffee und schöne Erdaromen begleiten einen schönen Abgang.
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7/28/2019 - Roentgen Ray Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark red purple in the glass.
Purple tinged.
Blueberry, raspberry, and acidity.
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7/17/2019 - SeattlePaul Likes this wine:
A very pleasant can with good profile. Went very well with a steak.
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12/22/2018 - Ecoenophile wrote: 92 Points
Well integrated... nice nose with cherry notes and rich blue fruits; palate was similar with a little leather and earthiness on the finish. Tannins were fine grained... a little "dusty". Overall very enjoyable.
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9/16/2018 - Nekodab wrote: 96 Points
Drinking beautifully!!!!
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7/15/2018 - Mr.Overhill Likes this wine: 95 Points
This silky beauty is in a very good place right now, a wonderfully smooth and expressive vervet fog of a dar k cassis and milk chocolate covered cherries. Really beautiful oak integration,with a creamy and sweet cedar mid palate and such soft tannins. It's got some laser sharp focus right, and with a subtle acidity the finish is long and expressive. I think it has several good years ahead of it, but it's so nice right now I wouldn't wait to find out if it can.
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11/14/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
So sad, my final bottle, and p'n'p at a restaurant. No real breathing time. A great wine, might even be worth another point...
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9/13/2017 - Pantera Likes this wine: 95 Points
We wanted to open a special bottle for our 3rd anniversary, so we went with a bottle purchased during our honeymoon. While visiting Shafer vineyards, the 2004 One Point Five was their cellar selection, purchased for $95. Once the cork was popped, the aromas were immediately evident. Let it breathe for 1 hour in a decanter. On the nose were notes of blue and black fruits, sandalwood, forest floor and an almost perfume like aroma. Flavors of blackberry, licorice, dark chocolate and earth with a finish that lasted 40 seconds. This wine took me back to our visit to Shafer vineyards and I cannot wait to go back.
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6/6/2017 - Hamersly Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ready to go after just a little air. Smooth and seamless, with lots of dark cherry throughout and rather more elegance than I expected. Tannins are fine and unobtrusive but still have plenty of grip. Delightful.
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5/18/2017 - Paul Lin wrote: 89 Points
Decanted off its sediment an served immediately. Mouthwatering aromas of grilled meat, cassis, blueberry, dried tobacco, sage, and cedar. Smooth and polished on the palate, with resolved tannins and excellent acidity. The finish does peter out, however. Nonetheless, this a very nice wine to be enjoyed with a steak. Fully mature and ready to go; there's really no need to hold it any longer.
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12/4/2016 - Nekodab wrote: 95 Points
Temecula-ish
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11/24/2016 - Lax4 Likes this wine: 92 Points
What a great tasting wine that paired well with Thanksgiving.
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9/28/2016 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
Worthy of the Shafer label and drinking well right now. Great flavor, balance and depth. Unclear why community has window ending this year. Good for a few more.
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7/17/2016 - swade wrote: 89 Points
Blackberry aromas. Pruney, ripe flavors. Cashmere texture. This came across more porty than the 1985 Graham VP with which we finished. 89
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4/14/2016 - DJSeiler wrote: 93 Points
Still very amazing. Busted a cork, but, still a great wine. Opened up with an appealing aroma of blackberry. Well balanced with smooth tannins that are supported with the deep flavors of fresh cherry, blackberry and a hint spice. As a full-bodied wine. Other than the cork... Amazing wine!
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4/2/2016 - JoeDwine wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle but a clear 2nd to 1994 Caymus S.S. really still big but was great with Steak.
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2/5/2016 - WineWright Likes this wine: 94 Points
Last bottle and it was a beauty! Bravo!
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1/15/2016 - markswine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Plummy. Ripe. Juicy. Very nice.
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1/1/2016 - ebert Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding flavors and body with a long silky finish.
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11/17/2015 - crohlfing wrote: 93 Points
My last one---to bad---a beautiful battle of wine.
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11/14/2015 - WineWright Likes this wine: 94 Points
Shared two bottles with close friends tonight. Gorgeous wine!
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9/3/2015 - WineWright Likes this wine: 94 Points
That kind of day. Just had to pull one out. Since our last bottle and my subsequent tasting note, the only differences with this offering were a perfect cork and fully integrated tannins. Absolutely Beautiful grape.
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6/13/2015 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Like another reviewer, the cork on my bottle crumbled as well. that made decanting a must. I was totally blown away with the magnitude of this wine. Bold rich fruit with solid but balanced tannins. The lingering spice notes to carry the finish to a long and enriching end. Would expect this wine to last many more years, if only I had more....
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4/17/2015 - pgm wrote: 94 Points
Probably at its peak right now. Beautiful berry, cigar box, black olive, cocoa notes on the nose, and in the mouth its all integrated and powerful. Tannins are resolved/resolving, but there's still great structure. Long, fine finish. Loved it.
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4/12/2015 - harley-dawg2001 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine, so smooth
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3/23/2015 - WineWright Likes this wine: 93 Points
Was worried by an earlier review this might be waning so we opened a bottle tonight. The cork disintegrated so I decanted, but otherwise the wine was superb, rife with deep and complex aromas and flavors of dark fruit and spices. Tannins still had presence, but softly, so my take is this vintage still has a ways to run. All is right with the world once more.
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3/23/2015 - The Wine Doctor wrote: 90 Points
just past peak and starting to fade compared to previous examples, don't decant, drink up.
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11/2/2014 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 89 Points
Double decanted for three hours and tasted blind initially. Moderate nose, black fruit, a touch of earth, medium body, medium acidity, saturated dark fruit on the attack, finishes a bit weak though. This fell a bit short for me.
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7/5/2014 - Lax4 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Full body wine with lots of ruby red color and big bold flavor
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6/15/2014 - mlawren1 wrote: 92 Points
Currants, berries and cherries. Finishes with a little herbal hint.
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6/7/2014 - capacious Likes this wine: 90 Points
One and one half Shafers? I think we get the best of both of them, name said. Currently out drinking the Hillside, altho I don't expect ( and hope since we have the hillside ) that to be the end result, this is a very well made, and distinctive, napa cab with a ways to go.
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4/17/2014 - kenv Likes this wine: 94 Points
WCC 2004 California Cab Blind Tasting (Fort Orange Club, Albany, NY): Very ripe fruit nose with notes of beef and licorice. Sweet, juicy, young, but balanced and harmonious. Definitely one of the best wines to drink tonight.
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3/21/2014 - folsomarndt wrote: 93 Points
A big, delicious and well balanced wine, with velvety tannins and a mid-length finish.
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3/20/2014 - capacious Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big napa, drinking very well now, nice feel on palate, some of the California in your face quality, but not over the top, more complex than fruit bomb. Thanks Doug.
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2/15/2014 - Chainthroer wrote: 92 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, spice and oak. Similar flavors, along with blackcurrant and hints of chocolate. The tannins seem pretty much resolved and soft. A velvety texture in the mouth. Rich and fairly intense. Good structure and well balanced. A medium to long finish.
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2/9/2014 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 93 Points
Classic yummy Cab, great structure, complexity; it is good now, and will be good for a little while.
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10/20/2013 - MOWE_NV wrote: 90 Points
Black cherry, graphite, waxy aromatic w a touch of scorched earth - quite fresh w good fruit purity. The fruit is a little too forward which surprised me - very enjoyable
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10/11/2013 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Occasional dinner group; Bordeaux 2003 plus some extras.: Beautiful bouquet with a lot of chocolate and sweetness and ripe dark cherries and some eucalyptus. On the palate ripe dark forest fruits and dark cherries as well. A lot of sweetness. Chocolate and eucalyptus. Soft and friendly acidity and tannin. Mild bitterness. The alcohol shows. Overall a beautiful, friendly and soft wine. Ready now and certainly for another few years.
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10/11/2013 - Strikermax wrote: 94 Points
Rijp, gestoofd fruit, érg dik, a-typisch Bordeaux, piraat? (blind geproefd op een 2003 Bordeaux proeverij)
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8/3/2013 - capacious wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well now- first 04 we've opened -big mouth filling some spice, dark purple black, ready without reservation
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6/21/2013 - gr8r84u wrote:
Needs an hour or so but then...
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4/8/2013 - domco wrote: 86 Points
Surprisingly unpleasant at first… musty and a bit sour. Not undrinkable, but not all that enjoyable. Seemed to come together after about an hr, and was fine with dinner, though a bit disappointing overall. Strangely, we’re finding the 1.5’s we are opening from the cellar to be very hit or miss right now. Not sure if best to drink young, or just a bit unlucky with a couple bottles.
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3/31/2013 - carstenf wrote: 92 Points
Just nice and welldone Napa Cab. The last one and it was good to see who it still had fruit and good karma......
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2/24/2013 - danrogers66 wrote:
Excellent
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2/17/2013 - brian przyzycki wrote: 93 Points
Drank on a Valentines day dinner with 2 other couples. (met my wife in 04') Classic 04 cab in every sense. If your a fan of this vintage, it will not disappoint. Tons of blackberry and cassis flavors with a smooth oak finish. Impeccible balance and mouthfeel. Very extracted...opaque. Exceeded expectations on every level and a total crowd pleaser. Paired with filet mignon and NY strip.
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2/14/2013 - Nealefisher Likes this wine: 93 Points
Took about an hour to open up and got better for the next 2 hours. hint of pepper was a great match for lamb chops.
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12/17/2012 - thomaskeil wrote: 89 Points
Decanted 2 hours (sediment and some aeration benefit). Deep violet red. Not particularly aromatically expressive. Does show dark cherry, mocha, oak spices. Palate starts out with almost thick fruit, then smooth, soft tannins express along with a tiny dose of acidity. Creamy, smooth texture. Not complex or finesseful. Pleasant to good. Nice match for grilled NY strip. Plenty of time left, but see no reason to further cellar.
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11/22/2012 - ebert Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great dark fruits and a bit of chocolate and spice. Round, full mouth feel. Great finish. Subtle oak
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10/22/2012 - iamandyc wrote: 91 Points
Really nice wine for the price. Lots of body with rich cassis flavor. A certain smokiness and some vanilla. Good structure and finish. Had this as an end of evening bonus selection.
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8/31/2012 - RR47 wrote: 93 Points
Dark red. Purchased 6 at release and stored at 55. If I remember, first year of 1.5 replacing Cab. Sauvignon name on the bottle. Good father- son story on the new name. This needs some open time as you would expect from a Shafer Cab. As a Cali Cab this is a solid 93 pts. Nice nose of dark fruits, coffee. So rich and structured, but not overly "fruity" as you would expect from Shafer. Balanced long finish with soft but notiicable tannins and hints of spicy tobacco. Maturing nicely with 5 to 10 years left.
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8/22/2012 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Rich, ripe cassis flavor. A decent amount of tannins on long finish. A terrific midweek drinker with some grass-fed strip steaks.
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7/22/2012 - balkmr@hotmail.com wrote: 84 Points
We were underwhelmed. Maybe our expectations were too high, but this was a ho-hum Napa cab. Decanted for 1 hour and consumed over the next 3, the nose was a nice combo of leather, mocha and oak but virtually no fruit. The disappointment lie with the taste, the oak and vanilla dominated the fruit and some nice spice undertones that we picked up. The finish is very smooth with very little tannic grip left. It was a good wine, but I expect more from this classic producer in a decent vintage.
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7/12/2012 - cepageyakima wrote: 94 Points
Just fantastic
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5/30/2012 - bruinboozer wrote: 91 Points
Long day so went to an old stand by. Wish I had more.
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5/25/2012 - The Wine Doctor wrote: 94 Points
Shafer always delivers a good wine. I have had this many times along the way, and it is drinking beautifully right now. Still has fruit, but there has been a nice development of complexity and spice that put a smile on our faces.
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5/5/2012 - tcufletch wrote: 93 Points
Purchased this 5 years ago after sommelier recommendation; first Shafer wine for me. No formal notes. Opened and decanted for an hour, but it took another hour for this wine to really open up then enjoyed over a couple of hours. Big fruit and super smooth. Characteristics of typically top-level Napa Cab. Would definitely seek out other vintages.
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4/1/2012 - jcasey555 wrote: 93 Points
- Garnet color with fast forming legs - My last 04. Different but as good or better than the first. less fruit but very smooth integrated tannins. Very nice finish
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3/3/2012 - nortonnose wrote: 93 Points
Just simply a house favorite. Quite ironic because we tend to strongly prefer nuance and/or complexity and One Point Five has never really shown us any of either. It is just simply a velvety smooth, soothing old friend. Tonight we PnP and enjoyed with yuppie fast food burgers, and lingered over it for another 2+ hrs. Rich mouthfeel, medium-plus length. This was our last 04 and all of them were in an excellent place to enjoy - from 2008 through today. I wouldn't expect any further evolution so, start enjoying them soon (though clearly the 04s won't die in your cellar in 2014....)
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1/17/2012 - atrox wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnet with a big nose. Dark fruit and oak. Some tobacco and menthol with everything pretty well Integrated. Not as big as you would expect.
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12/21/2011 - Max Power wrote: 93 Points
That was the last one. I wish I had more.
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12/11/2011 - bulldurham wrote: 92 Points
We always enjoy this wine even if it is just consumed by itself without food or appetizers.
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11/19/2011 - J2K wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind-- Big fruit on the nose, Big and sweet fruit on the palate, but with good tannins, finish get a little more complex, probably even better with some more age.
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10/18/2011 - Roentgen Ray wrote: 93 Points
Delicious juice, tons of cassis, dark spice, some mineral. Structure and tannins make it more than just a pretty face. Drinking great.
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9/9/2011 - prmcneill wrote:
this was a wonderful cab. great nice selection good color a little hot at first but bellowed right out. this was great with the big piece of prime rib I was eating.
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8/14/2011 - bigdomer wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding! Perfect example of the 2004 vintage.
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8/6/2011 - John McCabe wrote: 90 Points
Pretty average really. Was hoping for more, especially after decanting, but it was a bit drab and incomplete.
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8/1/2011 - raydawgone wrote: 90 Points
Oak, new leather with rich vanilla on finish. Fruit was closed down, which is a first for a Shafer in my tastings. It may need more time.
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7/31/2011 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
Shafer has always made consistent Cab blends and this is another. Decanted 3+ hours, then double decanted back into the bottle. Dark crimson red in the glass, with only a little light passing. Strong Black and Blue berry fruit on the nose, but the Vanilla Oak is the most pervasive part of profile. The rich berry and vanilla fruit on attack, gives way to chocolate, leather, and spice. This has some nice secondary flavors, but we felt the full fruit was not giving way yet. Maybe another year in the cellar would help to coax out a bit more fruit? Either way, this is a strong Napa Cab, from wine family that puts out consistently strong bottles.
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6/17/2011 - Dbrane wrote: 82 Points
Sweet, big. Easily identifiable as a Napa. Not terribly over the top though. Pretty simple and lacks much complexity to balance out the full-bodied flavors.
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6/17/2011 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
2011 Casual Session - 9 @ ES (Extra Space Boon Keng): Alcohol :: 14.9%
Served with Riedel O Bordeaux. Decanted for 2.5hrs. Purplish dark red. The aromas is focus and deep, but also quite heavy with vanilla oak dominated along with spices and bitter chocolate. Big, slight alcohol with very heavy weight, almost brutal power that attacking the palate with its huge concentration of sweet dark fruits and oak that completely buffer the tannin. Despite of the strong mid palate profile, the finish is slightly disjointed with medium length, bitter chocolate aftertaste. Need many more years to come around. Buy - No - Maybe.
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6/2/2011 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, intense, and concentrated. Secondary flavors, including chocolate, tobacco, and charcoal predominate over fruit flavors. Has the acidity and tannins to suggest that it will get even better as it mellows out a bit more over the next few years.
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5/31/2011 - Yamadori wrote: 91 Points
Left to breathe in the bottle for about 3 hours. Very similar to the last bottle i had a couple of months ago except this seemed a little better. Very smooth and lush in the mouth. Very well balanced with clean, focused black and red fruits. Long finish with integrated tannins. This is not a powerhouse but is a great example of a restrained cabernet with lots of elegance while still providing plenty of depth. Should reamain at this level for several years.
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4/18/2011 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Consistent with previous notes, except the oak was much more forward and substantially less integrated than I recall previously.
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3/21/2011 - twelch wrote: 92 Points
Pop and Pour. Dark deep purple in color with that classic deep purple, cassis blue and black fruit profile that has made Shafer famous. In the mouth all the flavors continued from the nose with a touch of sweet tannins to finish. Not sure where this will go but it's drinking nicely right now. I'll save my others to try down the road to see where this takes itself. A pretty nice bargain for the price for a great Napa wine even if its not the Hillside Select.
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2/16/2011 - Yamadori wrote: 90 Points
Not decanted but left to air for about 2 hours. Very dark purple color with lots of cassis on the nose with a little mint. Smooth and full bodied with a silky texture. Plenty of black and red fruit and a medium length finish with soft tannins. Very good and drinking very well right now.
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1/14/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 92 Points
Decant 1.5-2 hours
Right in the zone for this style tonight, so on another night this could be a 90-91, but feeling it tonight as I wanted a great Napa Cab, velvety smooth with silky lush fruits.
Color: Dark, red edges
Nose: Caramel, chocolate cake, blackberry and blueberry, cedar, and earth, a little terroir is peeking out.
Palate: Lush and full up front, yet the mid-palate maintains the style with finesse and the finish is clean and rather pure. I think another year and this will be 94 pts, it will get better. The finish funnels into the acidity and mostly tannins that are up there but seem to be mellowing, not as silky as I would expect from a Stag's Leap wine.
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12/29/2010 - Max Power wrote: 92 Points
This was tasty as always. Great dark fruit flavors that have integrated nicely with the oak. There is nothing to complain about with this wine and it was a perfect pairing with steak, mac and cheese and broccolini. One bottle left and I will try and hold off for a while.
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12/28/2010 - Red Loki wrote: 93 Points
Delicious. Balanced tannins, great acid/fruit balance. Black fruits.
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12/24/2010 - awise45 wrote: 93 Points
Excellent -- full and long finish, burst of fruits with a hint of vanilla. Everything that is great about Shafer.
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11/26/2010 - HOS wrote: 93 Points
Opened 1 hour prior to drinking. This is the 5th of these I've had and they're consistently outstanding in line with WS's rating. I just do not see what Parker has against this offering. He over rates the Hillside Select and underrates these year after year.
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11/10/2010 - dbg wrote:
Dark red to rim. Forward nose, cassis, dark berries, some earth and tar. Full bodied, smooth palate feel, rich ripe fruit, cassis, berry/cherry, well-integrated tannins, nice finish. Excellent to outstanding.
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10/10/2010 - WI WineLover wrote: 93 Points
Opened for two hours before drinking...very smooth. Awesome with a filet. Drinking great now
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10/9/2010 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
Notes same. My last bottle of this. Great wine, drinking great right now.
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9/5/2010 - NTR wrote: 92 Points
Clean cabernet nose, lots of berries..Tannins are well integrated..close to prime drinking..2-5 years... well structured..perhaps underrated by the pros...14.9% alcohol but not hot. Very nice napa cab, lovely vanilla and leather...better than the first bottle of 04 I opened pre-Cellartracker...if you have some 04 crack one and post...love to hear others thoughts
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9/3/2010 - gigabit wrote: 92 Points
This bottle showed very well. A dark purple color in the glass; a touch of heat; dark, bright fruit, some tobacco, and earth; very nice weight on the palate; tannins have started to integrate very well; medium-long finish. I believe that this will continue to improve over the next 2-3 years, and should drink well for another 5-6 years.
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8/23/2010 - HOS wrote: 93 Points
My first bottle home after two weeks in Europe. Decanted and immediately poured. Drinking very well right now and should age well.
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8/21/2010 - ptelgenh wrote: 93 Points
This is the perfect drinking window for this wine. Still has the structure, tannins and big black fruit to hold up to your favorite steak.
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8/2/2010 - Tarrant wrote: 92 Points
Big, luscious and so 'new world', it's over the top for sure, but works with hunks of beef, still feels a bit 'hot' and not as integrated as it may be in a few years, but once again perfect for the occasion - Black, full bodied with a nose of extreme plum, cherry, tar, cedar and vanilla, well made, huge, complex and just a touch 'hot' needing a few more years to integrate perhaps, very tasty, sweet and smooth on the palate with excellent length, fabulous! (92 Points).
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6/21/2010 - awise45 wrote: 93 Points
Continues to get better as it gets older. Rich and full, with a long finish and lots of tannins. Great with a thick steak, opened for a couple hours but not decanted.
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5/31/2010 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and immediately drunk over 2 hrs. Purple color that lightens at the edges. About 90 mins into this, oak and blueberry are the primarily discernible aromas. Medium-light in weight, this is very approachable today and is dark-fruit dominant but without the fine tannins or the heavier weight that you typically find in the HSS series, making me wonder how long the shelf-life is of this. In any event, its drinking great today and I'd buy a few more bottles for short-term drinking if found at a good price.
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5/21/2010 - winegr wrote: 91 Points
Night 1 notes: definitely started off dead. Subdued and a bit boring. Became to get earthier and a bit more interesting with air. kind of a jack of all trades cab. Nice balance, solid structure, but missing a bit if complexity to make it really top notch. 91ish? 90-91+. Less upon open.
Night 2: still a bit boring, though well made. Not much upside, just very good. Decent oak.
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5/16/2010 - VCvino wrote: 90 Points
Needs a bit more time in the cellar in my opinion. Started off a bit dead but with some warming up and air it improved after about 2 hours.
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5/1/2010 - ebrumby wrote: 93 Points
Had this with steaks. Really outstanding, improved quite a bit since I last drank a bottle. Did not need decanting at all. Smooth, full, and totally delightful. Both other parties at the dinner concurred.
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4/16/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 88 Points
Fairly unremarkable Cali cab. Had some 2003 Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux this week which were very similar and cost a third the price. Smooth plush tannins. Drink up.
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4/5/2010 - ilcor wrote: 92 Points
Look forward to trying this wine again in a year or so.
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3/14/2010 - HOS wrote: 93 Points
Opened the bottle and went to get Chinese. Took 45 minutes to go the 4 miles to the restaurant (got to love the Merritt). Ended up pouring the first glass an hour after opening so didn't bother to decant. It just keeps getting better bottle after bottle. Black fruit dominates with earthy notes. Complex flavor profile in a full bodied wine with a great, long finish. Very smooth.
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3/2/2010 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
At a great spot right now. 92 -93pts.
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2/14/2010 - johnnyo wrote: 93 Points
This wine reminded me of why I love SLD so much. Great big fruit, strong but smooth tannins and great acidity. Beautifully balanced wine.
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1/22/2010 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Johnny brought into Scoozi for dinner.
Nice defined California styled Cab. Showing great dark blackberries, blueberries and cherries.
Some nice earthiness with dark cigar box and truffle aromas.
Palate is ultra rich, and after the Merus this seemed like a weaker bottling than it actually was.
Still very nice. Glad I have one in the cellar.
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12/30/2009 - Rich S wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at an off-line event. Dark purple color. Big dark fruit, toasted oak, chocolate notes on the nose. More of the same on the palate with some cassis and vanilla flavors as well. Strong tannins, a touch hot on the back end indicate to me that this wine needed some decanting or additional bottle time. Long finish and overall a really well done cabernet. This wine was also drank toward the end of the night and palate fatigue may have set in.
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12/27/2009 - HOS wrote: 92 Points
Pulled this bottle after we got home from an extended Christmas. Notes consistent with earlier bottle except the finish has improved.
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12/5/2009 - Jody Smith wrote:
2 hour decant. Smooth vanilla, cassis and cedar shake. Medium to full. Round and a bit sweet. Nice dusty tannin. A bit simple, but easy to drink.
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11/11/2009 - psoals wrote: 90 Points
Solid example of a Stag's Leap cabernet, but perhaps a bit pricey for what it was.
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10/31/2009 - raydawgone wrote: 96 Points
In prime time tasting! Oak and tannins mellowed from first bottle last year. Big vanilla, dark, rich blackberry fruit. Finish lingered on for what seemed like 10 minutes. Paired with southwestern flank steak. Superb, top bottling I've drank from Shafer!
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10/11/2009 - Red Loki wrote: 92 Points
Suprisingly well balanced and supple for a Shafer Cab. Very well integrated tannins, great dark cherry and chocolate notes. really well done.
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9/27/2009 - wirelesswine wrote: 91 Points
Lots of fruit on the nose with some coffee bean and even a bit of greenness. Tasted after about an hour in the decanter and very disappointed with the heat from the alcohol - felt like drinking vodka! And the tannins felt bitter and tight. However, by the 3rd hour the wine finally opened up and got very pretty and much more typical napa cabernet but still very, very refined. Advice is to really decant this one for a while....
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7/31/2009 - Red Loki wrote: 90 Points
Very tight on opening then evolved into a fruit forward but well balanced cab. Lots of cherry fruits.
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7/13/2009 - City Wine Journal wrote: 88 Points
Bought and cellared on release. Decanted 45 minutes. Very dark. A classic, predictable west-coast offense - big california fruit bomb. Black fruits, menthol, sweet, and too soft. Alcohol is prominent, extraction and concentration overwhelm the reference to a venerable Napa commune. "Stags Leap District" is on the label, but it would be difficult to attribute this wine to any specific vineyard or commune. It is big. $55-65... would recommend other options at this price range.
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7/11/2009 - Hollowleg wrote:
WOTN. It's difficult to remember what else it was up against.
Superior pairing with BBQ'd rack of lamb.
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4/5/2009 - Mark wrote: 90 Points
No specific tasting notes recorded, the wine came off better in my previous tasting back in 2007.
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3/29/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 89 Points
Smooth juicy Cali Cab. Nothing special, very fruit forward with little in the way of supporting tannins or acidity. Probably best as a wine to serve later in the evening when everyone's senses are a bit dulled and tasting notes are minimal.
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3/14/2009 - butterflyirene wrote: 94 Points
This is my (naive) definition of a Napa Cab....very nice aromas of dark fruit on the nose....taste: huge fruit forward, and long finish with harmonious balance. Not too tanic, but seems to have enough to cellar another 10 years. One of our all time favs.
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3/7/2009 - HOS wrote: 93 Points
D and I had gone to Shafer winery last summer for a great tour/tasting and it was time to try one of my bottles in honor of that. Decanted for 1 1/2 hours. Very concentrated nose of black currant, other dark fruits and vanilla. Initially, the tannins were still strong but mellowed and integrated over the next hour. Ended up with a concentrated taste of blackberry, cherry, vanilla in a silky body with a medium length finish. In fact, the lack of a long finish was the only disappointment with this bottle. Very happy with how its performing right now.
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3/3/2009 - LPskeleton wrote: 90 Points
vanilla mingles with red currant and spiced cherries. Sweet oaked influence. A bit hot on the palate. med length and a repeat of the vanilla and spiced cherries on the palate. Solid new world vino.
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12/21/2008 - DenisLee wrote:
Popped and poured. I shared this with Karen, and we both loved it. Quite nicely balanced.
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12/15/2008 - VinumCA wrote: 91 Points
Simple, but very outgoing, smooth and luxurious. The oak is indiscernible under the layers of dark fruit, chocolate and licorice, and just a little bit of heat emerges on the finish. At this price, it appears you're paying for texture and sheen rather than complexity. A fun, albeit expensive, cabernet.
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12/6/2008 - junglejuice wrote: 92 Points
Notes from memory: absolutely perfect steak wine. By itself it does not have the "wow" factor, but it definitely satisfies. A fantastic wine.
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11/30/2008 - Yiannis wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple. Raw meat aromas gradually fading on aeration. Dark fruits, cassis and mineral aromas develop instead. A very complex and attractive nose. Full bodied, almost oily with intensive sweetness and delicate tannins. Super-concentrated fruit, partially balanced by the acidity. Long finish. A typical stag's leap cab, whose main drawback is its limited ability to match with food. Still a great choice for the non-food wine drinker.
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11/27/2008 - Hollowleg wrote:
I've had this a few times, but my family was super impressed with this on Thanksgiving.
Stood up well to my mom's antipasto.
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11/15/2008 - stanford88 wrote: 90 Points
Had it at a dinner party. It had been opened ~1 hour before I got there. Profile of smooth dark fruit, elegant tannins but the short finish davidandrose mentioned in his review. The depth was also short. An outstanding Cab - wish it was closer to $50/bottle.
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9/11/2008 - gigabit wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 90 minutes. Dark purple color; very floral nose with gobs of blackberry, currant, and sweet vanilla oak. Very lithe on the palate with sturdy, well-integrated tannins. I picked up a hint of green pepper on the finish. A very well-made wine that should slightly improve over the next 2-3 years.
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9/7/2008 - Bobc7had wrote: 91 Points
I agree with previous comments. Lacking depth and complexity.
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9/1/2008 - Hollowleg wrote: 94 Points
Drank against the '01 Napa Etude & a '96 La Jota Anniversary Cab.
After decanting for an hour the Shafer was even better than the last time I tried it.
This has everything that you look for in a California Cab. I can see this improving in another year, but I doubt I'll wait that long
before trying another.
My WOTN. (93-95)
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8/25/2008 - shiraz guy wrote: 93 Points
Had on of these over the weekend. I agree with davidand rose on this one. It was very good for me, but something was missing. If "it" were there, it could be a great wine. Maybe it was a lack of complexity? Not that it wasn't complex, but it could've had more. I enjoyed this very much though, but it wasn't as "fun" and easy to drink as I had hoped, but unfortunately, it seems if you want a great napa cab now, you have to pay more that $100.
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8/23/2008 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and allowed to sit for 60 mins. Really needed 2-3 hours before the wine really opened up, and at that point had a wonderful profile of dark fruit, elegant tanins, but a finish just too short for what I expect from a $65+ bottle. Still earns a 92-93 points in my book, and has the potential to add a point from its pure flavor....its just the depth and length of finish that are presently lacking in an otherwise absolutely outstanding calicab.
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8/8/2008 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 94 Points
Consistently superb!
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8/2/2008 - Red Loki wrote: 92 Points
Great fruit, found it well balanced and not overly tannic. Extremely clean, well made wine.
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7/28/2008 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Very cherry with vanilla and mocha. Nice. Did well next to a '95 Alion, but is was no match as the Alion had depth and complexity that this was lacking.
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7/24/2008 - joshwoodward wrote: 93 Points
Bubble gum nose. Very interesting. Spicy. Softish tannins. Huge, very concentrated, balanced acid. Peppery. Food wine, but good straight. Complex. Sausage.
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7/12/2008 - JoshuaG wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Could impove with time but sure drinking well now.
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7/6/2008 - bjohnson350 wrote: 87 Points
This is a new world feeling wine with black fruits, berries with flowers, and chocolate. Rich and weighty on the palate with soft tannins and a touch of acidity. Very fruity on the nose and a dark purple color. The wine had some good hang time on the finish and was not bitter. This wine was crisp and clean with a refreshing feel which to me gave it a very new world feel. Overall good quality and balance.
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7/4/2008 - steffenpelz wrote:
4th of July Blowout (Chez Rick): Oh boy...didn't like this at all. Searing acidity and weird roasted flavor profile. Did not seem over-oaked, but it was disjointed and completely out of balance. This is what I don't like about so many CA Cabs these days. What were the Shafer's thinking? (I've had a number of HSS wines and they've all been very good).
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5/14/2008 - Hollowleg wrote: 93 Points
Tasted at my friends store. After decanting for three hours the last couple of glasses were the best of the day. Powerful fruit aromas, slightly off balance in the mouth, with fruit dominating the palate. Smooth mouthfeel with an enormously long finish, which I was still tasting later that evening. Could use another year in the cellar. (93-95)
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4/26/2008 - raydawgone wrote: 95 Points
Decanted for 2 + hours, excellent boquet. Flawless, long taste. One of the best Cabs going, like melted butter! I'm looking forward to tasting the '05.
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4/20/2008 - EyeDoc wrote: 92 Points
I think the 05 is better. Still I like this.
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4/6/2008 - James B wrote: 89 Points
Lovely wine, but quite young and aggressive. The bottle we drank had been decanted for hours, and tannins still overwhelmed. Following an aged Bordeaux, this was a bit jarring, but the wine softened a bit in the glass as our palates adjusted, and it held its own quite nicely. I would stock this as a superior cab to pull out for guests who appreciate better wines, but not in the hope of a life-altering experience. Still, who knows in a few years?
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4/6/2008 - A&C wrote: 88 Points
We decanted this for about 4 hours. The nose was muted. The color was black. On the palate, the wine was cherry, smooth, but with not much depth. Pleasant, with no negatives, but not very memorable. All-in-all, not bad. The 2004 Relentless was much better.
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3/17/2008 - ajaffee wrote: 93 Points
We brought this to a friend's 50th Birthday dinner 2 days ago. No notes taken. Decanted two hours, rebottled, and brought to the party. The winewas lush with a full mouth feel of wonderful fruit. The long finish had distinct notes of caramel and chocolate.
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3/10/2008 - OregonWineGeeks wrote: 93 Points
I had a half bottle of this fine cabernet (2004), at Jacksonville Inn with a dinner of prime rib, Oregon coastal mushrooms. It was excellent with a fine nose of black cherry and loam. The taste is fruit up front with a tannins flavored long finish it holds it own against a fine meal. The taste is blackberry, and long oak and cabernet tannins. You can taste oak barrels and age can’t imagine how this wine would not get better and better with age.
I had another bottle of it at Peterson Steak House in Indianapolis the September with Filet Mignon. This wine was as before but I did notice how much it changes with steak. The meat brings out the flavor of the wine i n wonderful and exceptional ways. It sweetens the tannins and fruit and create totally new effect. This wine stands well on its own but with fine beef is an outstanding offering
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2/25/2008 - The Wine Guy wrote: 95 Points
Clearly the best on a ski trip beating Camus special selection, Fischer Insignia, well done a future favorite.....
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2/14/2008 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 93 Points
Special night, special wine.
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1/13/2008 - junglejuice wrote: 93 Points
Had with a fat piece of red meat. There was a bit of heat on the finish at first but that blew off with time. When it did finally open up it was completely balanced and delicious. Definitely a fantastic wine.
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1/7/2008 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 96 Points
Consistently amazing!
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12/30/2007 - sstitt wrote: 93 Points
Paired with seared Prime Rib. Outstanding full-bodied wine big dark fruits with a beautiful finish and very refined tannic structure.
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12/2/2007 - winedrool wrote: 95 Points
The nose on this wine is very good with biting nail polish[in a good way], cherry liquer with brandy cream. Also, there are notes of menthol, pine cone, chloraform, cinammon and cedar. The concentration is gigantic. It is very rich and paint like, but elegant at the same time. This wine could be aired for twelve hours. This wine is extremely deep with good acidity and cedar. Time may make this even better. It also has a great finish. My rating=95/Angie=94.
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12/1/2007 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Fruity, spicy oak. Smooth tannins, crisp acidity. Definitely a crowd pleaser, but somehow lacking complexity to be truly memorable. Nice QPR.
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11/23/2007 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
Full opaque red/purple color. Big candied ripe boysenberry jammy nose. Mmmmn, big rich jammy sweet black fruit with a long coffee finish and some spiciness.
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11/23/2007 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Blind tasting of 'Wow' wines at Ken's (Northbrook, IL): Dark red-purple in colour. Stunning nose shows spice, rich dark fruits and cherry flavours and some savoury earthy notes. More dark fruits and berries follow on the palate over notes of spice and vanilla with smooth tannins, lifting acidity and a long finish.
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11/11/2007 - thomaskeil wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Deep violet red. Huge nose of cherries and cassis with spicey oak, vanilla and mocha. Lush, rather soft palate with little acidity and 'easy' structure. Very tasty wine that got mixed reviews with rack of lamb. Some at the table were ga-ga, others thought it a bit fruity and not balanced. Clearly well-made and enjoyable and no need to age.
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10/20/2007 - KSC02 wrote: 93 Points
From a .375 size bottle: Deep, dense ruby red color with a hue of purple throughout. A HUGE floral nose immediately upon pouring, this blew off over the next 30 minutes, to reveal lush aromas of black currant, cedar, spice box and some fig. Bodied tannins in the beginning opened to allow the wine's several layers to integrate over the next couple of hours to reveal a very lush, plush, fruity Cabernet. Full mouth feel with medium length, full body finish. Not a brick house but a wine with a solid back bone. Potential exists for another point or two with several more years in the cellar. While this Cab may not move your soul, it will get your attention.
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10/12/2007 - GolferChris wrote: 94 Points
Hawaii Vacation Wines - Fall 2007; 10/4/2007-10/14/2007 (Big Island, Hawaii): Another great effort from Shafer, this wine showcases the elegance of the Stags Leap District fruit with big, ripe, rich fruit and well intergrated, velvety, round tannins. Tons of cherry, black currant, spice and vanilla. Decanted for 45 minutes, this wine really opened up and softened to an elegant, supple mouthfeel. Long, lingering wonderful finish.
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9/26/2007 - cobystilp wrote: 94 Points
Huge, juicy cabernet. Loads of berries, cedar, sweet figs. I love this wine.
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9/20/2007 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Frugal/First Steps Tasting (Nashville): Good, but a lot of tannins and closed. Waaay too young.
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9/13/2007 - BigTarheel wrote: 90 Points
Plush, ultra-ripe and fun to drink. This Cab maybe lacks a little depth but more than makes up for it with layers and layers of silky dark fruit and lush oak. I enjoy this wine with lamb and despite its youth, the wine is very accessible. I would buyagain and enjoy over the next few years.
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8/26/2007 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 89 Points
Red Raspberry and spicy oak. Was nice but not totally my stlye. Would drink again, but not search out.
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8/24/2007 - gorm wrote: 92 Points
Dark red/purple. Sweet and nice primary nose of blackcurrants. Full-bodied with fine, but dusty tannins and good intensity, medium length. Blackcurrant, spicy oak, a bit of coffee and hints of smoke. Less sweet and jammy than many Napa Cabs, almost drinks like a modern 3rd Growth Bordeaux. A very nice Cabernet indeed, but given my previous experiences with Shafer I would have expected a bit more personality. Maybe it will come with time. 92+.
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8/16/2007 - Thralow wrote: 93 Points
Paid $45 for this at the New Scenic Cafe located on the Scenic North Shore drive of Lake Superior. Every Wednesday night is half price wine night. What a deal! Such a good deal we also tasted it next to a Smith Madrone 2001, for which we paid $35! The Shafer was the winner even though it was still a little too young.
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8/5/2007 - mike l. wrote: 87 Points
was really looking forward to trying this since ive enjoyed the shafer relentless a couple times. this was such a disappointment. oaky and some syrah like spice and pepper but not much finish and it just fell flat. bummer.
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8/3/2007 - VinumCA wrote: 93 Points
Simple Napa Cab flight @ Adam's (Adam's in Toronto): Full on rich fruit and vanilla nose with a silky smooth rounded palate that went on for a good while. Nicely layered with distinct caramel notes, very deep. Drinking quite well despite its youth, but it will benefit from some time in the cellar.
(C/O Jason)
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7/9/2007 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 94 Points
Nice bottle with my wife.
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7/8/2007 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 95 Points
Cheese, shrimp, steaks on the grill. Had 3 bottles tonight with friends. 2001 Beringer Private Reserve, 2004 Caymus, and 2004 Shafer One Point Five. Shafer blew the other two away.
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6/28/2007 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine, precise fruit on top of some hefty tannins that are well concealed. Deep red rasberry, some tobacco. Well integrated oak, just pure lucious oozing fruit. This wine is a winner.
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6/4/2007 - Mark wrote: 91 Points
Two hours of decanting required. Still, it’s big and relatively closed overall, this one will need some more time. Nose of dark rich cherry, licorice, kirsch, vanilla and clear oak. Very fruity, with coffee grounds and some espresso in the mouth. Firm tannins with a medium length finish trailing to toasted almond nut. A big lacking in integration, something that I think (hope) will med over time, there is a clear fruit component but it’s a bit detached from the rest of the wine. Good, but not seamless.
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5/27/2007 - LPskeleton wrote: 95 Points
On the nose very complex, asparagus, liqourice, blackberry and cuyrrant. Firm tannins, great balance between components. I like this much more than Hillside for its price point. This is a more restrained wine to me. Just beautiful balance between all elements. On the palate flavors of liqourice, dark cherry and spice. Great Wine
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5/25/2007 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 96 Points
I'm in love!
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5/24/2007 - rothdog wrote: 91 Points
Excellent, but a very commercial Stag's Leap taste. Very clean, but nothing special. A bit heavy on the oak, lots of red fuit. This wine has replaced the Shafer "Napa Valley," which was a better wine for a few $$ less.
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5/17/2007 - cobystilp wrote: 94 Points
Awesome bottle of Cab! Lots of dark fruit, silky tannins. This was our second bottle after a 2004 Plumpjack Cab. No contest. This wine blew it away.
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5/13/2007 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 96 Points
I just can't believe how good this wine is. What a special Mother's Day with my wife.
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5/11/2007 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and just started right in. While the wine opened with a nice floral boquet, early flavors showed a lot of green stems. About 2hrs after opening this started to come together nicely. This will do well, and clearly needs some time sitting in the cellar.
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5/5/2007 - flashvictor wrote: 93 Points
Medium dark ruby color leads to a classic nose of currant, black cherry and vanilla. The lush body carries these flavors forward. The finish is extremely long. A very enjoyable bottle of wine.
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5/4/2007 - gr8r84u wrote: 94 Points
Chalk another one up for Shafer. This was the first bottle to disappear in our Thursday night tasting and it was likely the cheapest. Beautiful flowery nose of dark fruits right out of the bottle. A bit fruity but silky smooth and not overly tannic. Not overly complex and I don't know how it will do over time but VERY enjoyable now so who cares. Loved this wine.
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4/27/2007 - yovinny wrote: 94 Points
Good fruit, soft tannins. An enjoyable wine. Drinking very well now.
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4/23/2007 - BigPoppaMD wrote: 95 Points
I thought this was a fantastic wine. Excellent, powerful nose throughout the evening. Really softened as it opened up over an hour. Complimented everything from the bread and olive oil to the bacon-wrapped scallops to the crab-stuffed portabello. Awesome now and I'm sure will only get better with age. Time to cellar a few bottles.
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4/20/2007 - krsfrogg wrote:
Took a little while too open but after about 30 minutes in the decanter this wine started to reveal itself. Gooey gobs of dark chocolate covered cherries...this wine aims to please and delivers...a deft touch of oak, that is not quite yet integrated, adds another layer of enjoyment and should resolve over time.
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4/19/2007 - John McCabe wrote: 94 Points
Shockingly good. Deep, powerful, dar toasted notes
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4/7/2007 - dbg wrote:
excellent, rich, oaky, full-bodied
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3/29/2007 - sinebubble wrote:
Consumed with the famous peppercorn steak at Brooklyn. Seemed to be a hit with the team, but probably because this wine is very accessible with low tannins and good fruit. Will pick up another or two, but honestly, I think their "regular" Cabernet is better.
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3/24/2007 - tanglenet wrote:
At a tasting at the Wine Club SF. Quick notes: lots of dark fruit, a great body weight on the palate with a dry finish. Very good. This was my #3 wine of the flight with the Chappellet Pritchard Hill #2 and the Von Strasser Diamond Mtn #1.
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3/22/2007 - rloomis wrote:
enfanticide! sweet cooked cabbage, juicy -- very dense electric purple, stains the glass and colored to the edge. A little grape juicy -- very fine tannins but not lacking structure. touch of cocoa powder, sugarbeet, cherry. Oh, this is going to be good!
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3/18/2007 - JCaress wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful ruby color. Superb, dense fruit, better as the evening progressed. Quite smooth even at a young age, will only get better in the future.
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1/31/2007 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 92 Points
Luscious and not shy. Red and black fruits are very dominant without being jammy. Still a very young wine.
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