1997 Shafer Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (23) Avg Score: 89.5 points

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  2/6/2021 - aerosol Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Opened a bottle last night at the Wine Watch and first thought the wine was passed its prime. After about 30 minutes, this Merlot opened up and the fruit came forward of dark red cherry, fully integrated tannins, hint of leather, some earth and a delicious merlot showing its age. It reminds me of a well aged Right Bank Bordeaux and not a California fruit bomb. This is a great wine from a great producer from a great year and it has aged well but drink it soon and give it decant and filter

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  11/29/2020 - Margaux Bro Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Very fully integrated and balanced alcohol and oak, and it’s begun developing more tertiary flavors. I’ve had some other 90s Napa merlots (Beringer Bancroft) that have been more tannic this was. The wine had a nice acidity that went well with the steak dinner. Drank alongside a 2007 Frank Family Cabernet, which was good, but noticeably sweeter and more extracted. I think it was almost a dead ringer for st emilion merlot. This is a wine that is at peak for my taste preferences. Sad that I do not have another bottle.

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  9/24/2020 - Redwinetaster Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Just opened a cellared bottle last night.
  Still absolutely delicious.
  Powerful and scrumptious wine...still.
  Have a few more bottles.

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  4/26/2011 - dannyk8232 wrote: 90 Points

  Drinking well (from Mag). Not a ton of oomph...but great.

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  12/31/2010 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 91 Points

  Decided this would be a fun bottle to open for the small NY Eve party. Decanted for about 3 hrs before drinking. Definitely nearing the end of its life, but still a delicious treat. Lovely brick red, the fruit was very moderated -- definitely an earth-heavy wine at this point. I was sorry to see the bottle end.

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View all 23 Community Tasting Notes

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