November 21, 2020 - Drinking past its window, it has noticeable tertiary flavours (leather tobacco and a little anise and aromas while not at its best it is still enjoyable
If you have any drink it soon
Colour is still ruby ,
April 26, 2017 - Aged beautifully- everything one could ask for in good California cab.
May 30, 2014 - Tasty, good with wood grilled steak. No tannin. Medium finish. A little over the hill Good entry and fruit. Very smooth.
February 24, 2013 - Deep garnet. None of the funk of the last bottle. Cork was fairly dry but able to be removed (I have a humidity and Temp controlled cellar so I believe it is the cork used-may explain the wide range of opinions of this) This nose had the sweetness smelled in the HSS and anise and tobacco. Wonderful. Taste was all licorice with some hint of dried herbs. Beautiful
July 4, 2012 - Nice. Not great balance- a bit of a bite. Fruit is mostly gone, but still pretty solid.
September 25, 2011 - orange garnet. Nose was off initially-kinda like a 40 yo poorly stored Bordeaux. Bottle stink I hoped. And with time it blew mostly off revealing an older Cab nose-forst floor, seasoned salt. Taste was muted and dull initially, but opened with time to show dreid herbs and a hint of plum. Drink up! (I don't think a bad bottle, but perhaps...) A while ago I went to a Shafer tasting where they had the HSS and the regular Cab from many years. It showed me that in great years the regular Cab was only a hair behind the HSS. Not, I hope, this time.
September 25, 2011 - PnP. Violet red, slight edge bricking. Deep red and black fruit aromas with crushed dried leaves, mint, integrated oak, spice. Palate features medium weighted fruit with some complexity, surprising acidity (expecting 'soft' style) that was just in balance, and line of firmish tannin. Decent length. Smile inducing for sure. Surprise 'find' while rummaging in cellar, but the uh-ho turned into an ah.
February 16, 2011 - Decanted and then poured. Dark, dark ruby color with a hint of purple . Solid all the way to the rim. Does not look like a 15 year old wine. Deep, hedonistic nose of beautiful french oak on the top, but just underneth are layers of ripe plum. dark cherry, anise and some damp earth. Full bodied but not gloppy at all. Flavors mirror the nose. Good acidity. Nice balance. Long finish, really delicious. Older school moderately priced California Cabernet at it's best. Great Wedsenday evening surpise.
January 30, 2011 - Aromas of mint, chocolate and dark fruit. Lush, velvety tannins with abundant dark fruit on the palate. Nice finish.
May 7, 2010 - Awesome, the 96s are still the best of the 90s. Huge nose of current spice box and pencils. Great balance. The fruit is somewhat muted at this point but the flavors are complex and classic mature (but not old) Cabernet. Finish is long but
probably the weakest part of the overall package.