December 17, 2020 - Medium garnet color. Sweet cherries, blood orange, and cranberries on the nose. Incredibly tangy notes of blood orange, Slightly green raspberries, and pomelo. Delicious.
January 4, 2017 - Nose is secondary with blood, iron, leather and prunes. Palate is not very deep with some tobacco, leather and black fruit. It should be consumed now. Slightly off peak. It lacks the freshness.
September 6, 2015 - Medium-deep garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Initially reticent with notes of leather & prunes; later developing with decanting and extended airing into a forward, attractive & complex nose of mature & developed, ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blueberries & plums with classic cigar box overtones of cedar & tobacco, leather, dried herbs, mint, licorice, dusty, spices, minerals, smoky and a hint of toasty oak. Medium-full bodied with good concentration of smooth textured & elegant, developed & mature, complex ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blueberries & plums with herbs, spices, minerals, earthy and a touch of toasty oak. Lingering silky finish. Drinks quite well at present and appears to be at its peak of development and should hold for a few more years although I doubt any further development would occur from additional aging. A nicely aged classic Napa Cab; still going strong at 30 years of age.
January 21, 2012 - Very light for a California Cab. Nice nose of sandalwood and licorice along with some berries. I bet this was much better 3-5 years ago. Very good, but just past it's prime. I wish I drank it sooner.
February 13, 2010 - The wine looks Brick colored.
It smells like Rose, Honeysuckle, and Pine.
It tastes like Pine, Sandalwood, Rose, Strawberry, and Tea.
The body is Medium.
The wine is textured Silky.
The wine finishes Long.
September 30, 2009 - Dinner with the Ladies (Uncle Jack's, New York, NY): I have to say, this bottle confirmed that my Cali Cab sweet spot is the 1990's. I've had many positive experiences with SHS in the 00's and 90's and thought that the 80's would just add more integration and layers. And, while it did, it lost the darker fruity qualities, which are part of my favorite notes in Cali Cab. I got green pepper and fresh qualities like newly cut grass. This was nice, but give me a 1997 anytime.
September 30, 2009 - The nose started out mute, but developed pretty aromas of tobacco and black cherry. There was a little thinness on the palate, but it was fresh tasting with sweet fruit.
January 11, 2007 - Shafer Hillside Select Vertical (Zealous - Chicago, IL): Bronze ruby with a potent, complex nose of cedar, red currants, tobacco and ashtray. Palate has currants, sweet herbs and cedar. Soft and mature; remaining tannins are silky. 4+14+17+7=92
November 15, 2004 - The top Cab of the night as far as I was concerned. Ripe fruit notes of raspberry and black cherry with wild game. Complex with a long finish. 93-94 points.
August 6, 2004 - Heritage: A tiny bit fumey, low intensity aromas, a very subtle bouquet of light plums, light raisins, hint of floral notes, maybe a hint of soft vanilla, very light bod--but soft, faded t’s. This wine is over, but still had something interesting, although light, to offer. Brought in by someone.