December 2, 2023 - This has really benefited from 10 years in the cellar...an excellent NPV Syrah with dark berry flavors and a long finish.
March 17, 2023 - My last bottle of this vintage and the least favorite of 6 bottles. It was part of a Syrah night at a NYC steakhouse, and it was opened, but not decanted for over 45 minutes before pouring. It was good, but I was expecting much more. It was my least favorite wine of the night. Still at 91 points, it is pretty good. Full bodied, dark color and a medium+ length finish.
February 22, 2023 - So this is in the spirit of a Napa field blend and with sufficient age it is spectacular.
August 31, 2022 - This poured a deep red. A wow nose of sweet dark cherries, red and blue fruit, spice and smoky embers. The magic continued on the richly fruited palate with excellent inner-mouth perfume and a long spicy finish. This is still very much in the zone and likely has another 5 or more years of prime drinking ahead. Excellent.
June 23, 2022 - Hour decant. The evolution continues. Fantastic!!
December 7, 2021 - Velvety nuance full of blue and blackberry, soft earthiness and faint palo santo reverence. The Shafer craft is on point and ritualistic with 24 months in new French oak.
October 10, 2021 - Consistent with my past note. I've enjoyed many Shafers but this one underwhelmed.
May 31, 2021 - Decanted 30 minutes before service. In the glass, saturated magenta at the rim, fading immediately to dense, inky black. On the nose, blueberries, graphite, wet oak, and currants - in a blind tasting, I wonder if I would have mistaken this for a cab? On the palate, a mix of blueberries, dried herbs, and fresh ground pepper, with a tannic backbone that ramps up on the moderately long finish. It may not taste like a barrel sample, but given the tannins and lack of secondary nuance, it seems closer to that than to any drinking plateau that lies ahead.
December 27, 2020 - Past it’s peak but still awesome
December 27, 2020 - - Crimsom color with slow forming legs - Decanted for two hours and the wine was perfect. Great fruit, mild tannins, super nose. Too bad its my last bottle.