9/2/2018 - shiel wrote:

This bottle was singing. Sweet mellow tannins with a hint of dill. Just beautiful. I'd say its at its peak and has a few years to go.

6/3/2018 - shiel wrote:

Outstanding bottle. Dark and deep blackberries and spices. Just stunning.

6/3/2017 - shiel wrote:

Popped and poured. Likely this vintage was either less than others or this wine needs at least another decade before it comes out. Ultra jammy with little balance this wine just left me feeling it was not Shafer's best effort. Or, on the other hand, we have all been spoiled by prior years great success and this one was just average. Time will tell.

5/29/2017 - shiel wrote:

My first taste of the herolded Marcassin after being on the wait list for years. This wine burst with complex flavors so intense it was incomparable to anything ever produced in US. Buttery, spice, pear. It lingered for minutes not seconds. This was worth the wait and perhaps the cost. Nothing better in America.

8/5/2016 - shiel wrote:

Showing signs of age--loss of fruit; complex spices; mushrooms. Ready to fall off the cliff of enjoyment, so drink up now.

3/22/2015 - shiel wrote:

Scarecrow continues to make easy drinking early drinking eye popping wine.

3/22/2015 - shiel wrote:

A stunning wine. Well balanced with little tannins and superb fruit. Soft and gentle this wine just sings for its blended grapes. Just a wonderful intoxicating botlle.

1/3/2015 - shiel wrote:

Perfectly balance with sweet tones and dark fruit. Absolutely singing now.

11/30/2014 - shiel wrote:

Sweet fruit and perfectly balanced. This is what Napa is all about.

4/19/2014 - shiel wrote:

Delicious with strong blueberry notes unlike any Napa Cabernet

4/6/2014 - shiel wrote:

profound

11/23/2013 - shiel wrote:

bright and chewy fruit; cherry strength throughout; flush face; well blended; delicious

11/23/2013 - shiel wrote:

Beautiful deep purple; complex nose; tannins well balanced; great fruit; exotic wine

11/3/2013 - shiel Likes this wine:

Fresh cherry bursting with bright flush fruit. Bright and zingy.

10/5/2013 - shiel wrote:

Funny thing about these wines: they drink so well so young. Excellent expression of Napa Cab, yet so well balanced that the tannins are already hidden. Excellent balance. Enjoyable wine.

8/25/2013 - shiel wrote:

Sweet fruit tones. Well balanced. Drinking great.

7/6/2013 - shiel wrote:

Perfectly balanced and perfumed

7/4/2013 - shiel wrote:

Showing its age with some hints of mushroom and prunes. Well balanced, the oak long gone displaying beautiful fruit. Like the French came to America.

7/4/2013 - shiel Does not like this wine:

Lacked any intensity and character. Some gassiness on finished interrupted the experience

3/10/2013 - shiel wrote:

Exceptional example of Napa Merlot with a sweet spot on the back of the mouth made this really rock.

3/10/2013 - shiel wrote:

Perfectly balanced with soft tannins and delicious fruit. The harmony was blasting.

2/24/2013 - shiel Likes this wine:

Perfectly balanced with well blended tannins and plenty of fruit. Will age for another 20 years.

2/2/2013 - shiel Likes this wine:

Popped the cork and poured, not knowing a thing. Mellow and soft tannins at first with well blended fruit. Dark color with anise on the nose. Very food friendly. Nice wine for the price.

1/1/2013 - shiel wrote:

Drank at the beginning of NYE 2013. Fabulous wine with depth and intensity like a new wine. Strong anise forward exhibition. Just delicious.

12/9/2012 - shiel wrote:

This wine remains the best example of Aussie Shiraz found on Earth.

12/9/2012 - shiel wrote:

Fabulous wine. So dense and complex.

12/9/2012 - shiel wrote:

Simply the very best that Napa has ever seen. Perfectly balance with a perfume like nose; velvety finish that lingered for two plus minutes; while its easily approachable now given more time it will continue to develop. Dont be afraid to pop the cork now. Its unbelievable....

12/9/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank with 2000 Napa Silver Oak and this bottle was disappointing. Herbal and tannic compared to the 2000 which had an uncommon sweetness

12/9/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drinking beautifully. Well balanced.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

not much better out there

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

OK folks. Here goes. Drank at my daughter's wedding after consuming the following wines with my dear friends: 1985 Bonny's Silver Oak, !985 Napa Silver Oak, 1985 Joseph Phelps Insignia, 1985 Dunn Howell Mt., 2001 Araujo, 1995 Caymus Special Select, 2006 Colgin IX, 2007 Leonetti Reserve, 2003 Neal Rutherford Dust, 2006 Quilceda Creek.
So...this wine was the overwhelming best. Perfect harmony of fruit and oak and tannins all velvety on the palate. Lingers forever. Find it and covet it.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding.
Held up strong compared to top tier Napa Cabs.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding.
Nothing special. Not work the price compared to Neal Cab.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding.
Good but not in top tier.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding.
Didn't stand out among the Napa Cabs.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding.
Top of the heat only surpassed by Shafer Hillside Select 2002.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding.
Well worth the wait.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding.
Jumping Jack Flash, it was a gas.
Delightful.
Delicious.
Delectable.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank at my daughter's wedding. This was birth year wine and still going strong.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank this birth year wine at my daughter's wedding. Clean cork and little sentiment. Enjoyable.

11/18/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank this birth year wine two times during my daughter's wedding weekend. Both bottles were incredibly fresh and enjoyable. Plenty of fruit left with little oak. Remarkably there was little mushroom usually found in older cabs. If you have any, enjoy now or keep another 10 years.

9/15/2012 - shiel wrote:

Surprisingly delicious. Peppery finish with deep fruit. Perfect time to drink. Intensity that rivals much more expensive Napa Cabs.

8/28/2012 - shiel wrote:

still going strong this cab shows strong dill and cedar on the tongue with nice ripe fruit and typical SO finish. hold or drink and enjoy this classic SO

5/20/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank a verrtical of 96, 97, and 98 Alex. Served at room temperature. Opened an hour. The fruit on all 3 was draining out. All 3 had lots of dill, cedar and toothpick. More green showed in the 98 as has been typical since its release. The 97 was clearly the best, but the 96 was holding up strong, and a close second to the 97. Really enjoyable now and all three will last a good bit longer as none was showing any pruniiness or tobacco. Sadly I am done with all three. Long live Justine Meyer.

5/20/2012 - shiel wrote:

Drank a verrtical of 96, 97, and 98 Alex. Served at room temperature. Opened a hour. The fruit on all 3 was draining out. All 3 had lots of dill, cedar and toothpick. More green showed in the 98 as has been typical since its release. The 97 was clearly the best, but the 96 was holding up strong, and a close second to the 97. Really enjoyable now and all three will last a good bit longer as none was showing any pruniiness or tobacco. Sadly I am done with all three. Long live Justine Meyer.

5/19/2012 - shiel wrote:

I will leave it to others who are better studied; but this bottle needs hours of decanting to show its best right now. Two bottles remaining and I will check back in 5 years. Cheers.

5/19/2012 - shiel wrote:

Way too jammy for my palate; no complexity; not enjoyable

5/19/2012 - shiel wrote:

Magnificiant Cab; well developed and balanced; great structure; strong fruit; drink now or wait. very complex

5/19/2012 - shiel wrote:

not as well developed as the hype that surrounds it.

5/12/2012 - shiel wrote:

Bright fresh fruit with intensity of cherry and plum. Front of palate lingers. Flush face. Just a great example of what California Pinot represents.