2002 Shafer Firebreak

Community Tasting Notes (30) Avg Score: 90.8 points

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  4/27/2018 - R Z Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Unique California blend of sangiovese (91%), enriched with 9% Shafer Napa cabernet. Super-ripe, with 14.9% alcohol, deep color and a hint of sweetness. I enjoyed a couple bottles of the Shafer Firebreak sangiovese shortly after it was released, and was surprised that this 16 year-old bottle was not tired at all and still going strong, and had become even more impressive with time. Delicious fruit, not heavy notwithstanding the dark color and 14.9% alc, food-friendly and paired well with mixed charcuterie, mozzarella and tomatoes. Alas, this wine is now extinct, as 2003 was the last.
  
  Legend has is that Shafer abandoned their sangiovese project after 2003, replanted the Firebreak vineyard with cabernet sauvignon, and delivered a bottle of their 2003 Firebreak wrapped in a white flag to Piero Antinori with a note that Shafer was surrendering in its effort to produce world-class sangiovese in Napa. Rather wish Shafer had continued, but it's their winery.

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  12/26/2013 - RR47 wrote: 89 Points

  Soft fruit, not as complex as expected, but very drinkable. Last bottle, IMHO drink now.

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  3/7/2012 - Cragles wrote: 92 Points

  Amazingly still very solid - delightful- 3-4-2012

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  8/27/2011 - thomaskeil wrote: 89 Points

  PnP. Violet red. Tarry black fruits, with licorice, loads of vanilla, peppery spice. Creamy dark fruit of fairly high intensity on palate. Soft tannins, light acidity. Toasty vanilla oak overlays the dark fruit flavors. Not over-the-top but is new world all the way. Not a fan of the oak treatment, but I found this enjoyable. Unlikely to improve, but is in no danger of fading in the next few years.

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  12/14/2010 - mmontejano wrote: 92 Points

  Really nice.

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