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Red
1995 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select
Cabernet Sauvignon
- USA
- California
- Napa Valley
- Stags Leap District
Label borrowed from 1996
Label borrowed from 1994
Label borrowed from 1994
Label borrowed from 1996
Label borrowed from 1996
Label borrowed from 1996
Label borrowed from 1994
Label borrowed from 1994
Label borrowed from 1996
Label borrowed from 1994
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1993
Label borrowed from 1993
Label borrowed from 1997
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1992
Community Tasting Notes 99
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aquacongas Likes this wine: 98 points
March 3, 2024 - Blind, side by side with Lafite 1995
Terrific, fresh, elegant, pencil, cassis. Reminds more to a Bordeaux. I guessed 1994 but probably that would be fruitier. 98-99 -
englishman's claret wrote: 94 points
December 3, 2023 - Sweetish black fruit but, like the 1997, this just barely avoids crossing the line. Pencilly, fanning out with coal. Ripe yet controlled. Just.
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dpolzien Likes this wine: 93 points
September 22, 2023 - This should satisfy fans of aged Napa and BDX alike. Gave it a few hours in the decanter to start, and was initially showing mostly cigar box and iron notes with plenty of soft tannins. Subtle dark fruit started showing up after another hour or so, at which pairing with an SRF wagyu NY Strip was simply sublime. Fruit faded a bit on day 2, so would recommend finishing on day 1. Probably no rush to finish, as this has the structure to keep going for some time.
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WineWright Likes this wine: 96 points
August 25, 2023 - A Fabulous experience, with no signs of slowing down any time soon...will hold my last bottle until its 30th anniversary at least! Posted an updated photo.
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mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 points
July 1, 2023 - This bottle, after some hours of air, seemed on the downward slope of its peak period. Initially, it scored higher for me. I've found individual bottles of this vintage seem to have materially different rates of aging, which creates the box of chocolates situation. After a few hours the blackberries and black cherries started to give way to plumy/prune notes, but it was still a fine bottle and worthy of drinking over the course of a few hours for a number of reasons. This vintage created a dense wine that seems to denote the stylistic turning point in its making from earlier vintages.
1 person found this helpful Comment
1 - 5 of 99
More notes
Pro Reviews 9
Add a Pro ReviewDecanter
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By William Kelley
Shafer Hillside Select Vertical, 6/30/2017 (link)(Shafer, Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District, California, USA, Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
Vertical Tasting of Shafer’s Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select (Jul 2016), 7/1/2016 (link)(Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text.
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By Stephen Tanzer
Horizontal Tasting of Napa Valley’s 1995 Cabernets (Jun 2016), 6/1/2016 (link)(Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text.
Vintage Tastings
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By John Kapon
Cali Cabs Then and Somewhat Now plus Top 100 Weekend Teaser, 4/10/2005(Shafer .Hillside Select) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
6/2/2003 (link)(Shafer, Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text.
Vinous
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 1998, IWC Issue #78 (link)(Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select Stags Leap District) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
9/17/2011 (link)(Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select) Very dark red violet color; corked nose; corked, tart plum palate; medium finish
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By Richard Jennings
3/11/2010 (link) 93 points(Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select) Opaque red violet color; plush cassis, black fruit, menthol nose; youthful, berry, ripe cassis, black fruit, menthol palate; long finish 93+ pts.
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By Richard Jennings
8/29/2008 (link) 94 points(Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select) Herbal, bay leaf and tart plum nose; nice, poised, plum and black fruit palate; medium-plus finish
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1995
- Type Red
- Producer Shafer
- Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
- Designation Hillside Select
- Vineyard n/a
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Napa Valley
- Appellation Stags Leap District
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 3 (0%)
- In Cellars 1,061 (58%)
- Consumed 775 (42%)
Food Pairing
Community Recommendations
Valentine's dinner at Basil Leaf, with a prime strip steakWho Likes This Wine
100% Like It 27 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerShafer
- VarietyCabernet Sauvignon
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationStags Leap District
Add Articles
- Wine1995 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select (add)
- FamilyShafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select (add)
- ProducerShafer
- VarietalCabernet Sauvignon
- DesignationHillside Select (add)
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationStags Leap District