Definitely better than the last couple of times we have had it. Deep and dark ruby red with garnet edges and a little bit of sediment. Forest floor on the nose accompanied with dark berries. Fruit forward with an attack of cassis with some undertones of truffles and other earthy/rustic notes. Moderate tannins (7/10) with a smooth medium body. Actually a bit of dark cocoa too. Moderate plus furry finish. Shafer does not disappoint! Drink till 2019.
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Brick red in color, this wine showed faded aromas of coffee, baking chocolate and black tea on the nose. The mouth feel was soft with added hints of cola and red berry compote. The finish was medium in length with the acidity and spices holding the faded fruits in the background.
A recent gift from my Boss's wine cellar, this wine needs to be drunk immediately. Although it has lost most of its fruit, the secondary flavors make it still enjoyable. Barely.
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Very light fruit in the nose. Showing its age with brown brick color. Mid palate I almost thought it was going to turn into a dessert wine. Thankfully it did not though a strong fruity mid palate. For me past its optimal prime. Drinkable and a refined lighter merlot now
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Initial nose was disconcerting and made me dislike it initially. Barnyard and distracting. Decanted for 30 mins and the improvement was significant. Smooth and balanced tannins 6/10. Light fruit came through slightly on the nose. A hint of brick color starting. Drink as a lighter bodied ready to drink wine now.
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Part of a 3-way, including a 2001 Shafer Merlot(92pts), 2002 Zerba Cellars Columbia Valley Merlot (91pts). and a 2001 Etude Merlot(90pts). Initially the Etude and Shafer took front stage with their rich dark fruit/tannin profiles that overshadowed the Zerba and its zestier acid balance, more in the red fruit/red plum direction. After 90 minutes the Etude put on a lot of weight and got richer, albeit heavier as well, whereas the Shafer continued with its bright berried fruit profile to the end. The Zerba turned out more food friendly (paired w/beautifully broiled NY cut steak and fabulous salad of baby greens, goat cheese, red bells and fresh herbs) and balanced too. My favorite was the Shafer, which I gave 92pts. As much as I love great Pinot Noir, especially the best from Oregon and California, I'm reminded how good a fine, well structured Merlot can taste.
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Dark red, little fade at the rim. Wonderful bouquet of red fruits, chaerries and plums. The nose literally leaps from the glass and greets you with its blast of ripe fruit flavours. Medium body, smooth, thick, plush mouthfeel. Flavours of plum with hints of vanilla and mocha. I often find Merlot can have subtle hints of spice cake or baking spices. I did not detect any in this wine and my score would have been a point or two higher had I picked up some more nuances or complexity. Overall a delicious and hedonistic wine. At peak now and should be able to hold there for at least another five years.
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A very nice merlot...some hints of chocolate and cola on the nose. Rich mouthfeel, just slightly sweet but definitely not into Zin-land. Only complaint is that it was all up front...no lingering mouthfeel, not the most complex wine but man it hit the spot and was quite nice as a late night sipper after a long flight!
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Mmmm, stellar, textbook Napa Merlot. A little sweet but not beyond interest. Cassis, chocolate and leaf on a rich, expressive nose. Expansive, easy palate of lush red berry and chocolate cover cherries. Slightly drying and still a little tannic on the finish.
Lush, ripe and elegant merlot with lots of berry, licorice, dark chocolate and coffee aromas and flavors. Plush mouthfeel with persistent, ripe and juicy finish.
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Did not decant and drank tasted this quickly while on the run. Good balance and body with nice fruit on the nose but not at all too strong or overpowering. I am sure that decanting would have taken the slight edge off.
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Great wine, sorry I had to finish my last one. Wonderful aromas and a very smooth wine. Still some tannins but much more integrated and smoothed out than I previously remembered this wine. Sorry to see it go, hopefully the 2002 ends up the same way.
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solid merlot from shafer in 2001...good balance of fruit, tannin and complexity...a little sweet but not too much...main fault to the wine at the stage was its short finish. every other aspect was good, not great, but missed a bit in the finish
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Opened not decanted. Bought off the list at the El Dorado CC. No formal notes. Started out a little musty and tight. Morphed into a round and dark tasting wine by the last glass. Very good.
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A good bouquet, positive attack with good acidity and velvety mouthfeel, full flavour and softish tannins, Well balanced and an excellent food wine. A half bottle consumed at Pied a Terre, London.
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Plum and chocolate dark fruit nose. Full-blown lush merlot on the palate but slightly angular which exposes some heat on the finish. Medium-grain tannins and decent weight. Would be better with some decanting. **+/5
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Decanted for 45 minutes. Ripe fruit and mildly spicy nose. While this is a nice Merlot, I found this bottle to be somewhat "thinner", than my last bottle. On the palate, what was promised by the nose was delivered, only on a reduced scale. Medium bodied. Medium finish.
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One of the better vintages of Merlot from Shafer. Structured, full bodied, lots of ripe fruit and great balance. Medium length finish with some powdered mocha. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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Clear and dark ruby in color. A little hot on the nose at first, but balances out very nicely after an hour - it pulls itself together very well. Nose of ripe red fruit, spice, some cassis. Very smooth finish with all the notes showing in the mouth. This wine is drinking great right now.
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Tasted at McCarthy & Schiering. This pour was from a bottle than had been open from a day earlier tasting. Mmm, this is Merlot! Spicy with brown sugar and a LOT of structure. This is slightly astringent but still very nice!
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If you really like the in your face extracted high alcohol Marquis Philips wines, you will like this a lot. Now, if you are like me and find that style to be over the top, you won't like this. I didn't like this for the same reason I dislike MP wines. The ripe blueberry, sweet oak, vanilla in this totally reminded me of the 02 Sarah's Blend, only $39 instead of $12. Alcohol level is a whopping 14.7% in this wine and you really taste it
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5/13/2016 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 91 Points
Definitely better than the last couple of times we have had it. Deep and dark ruby red with garnet edges and a little bit of sediment. Forest floor on the nose accompanied with dark berries. Fruit forward with an attack of cassis with some undertones of truffles and other earthy/rustic notes. Moderate tannins (7/10) with a smooth medium body. Actually a bit of dark cocoa too. Moderate plus furry finish. Shafer does not disappoint! Drink till 2019.
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10/16/2015 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brick red in color, this wine showed faded aromas of coffee, baking chocolate and black tea on the nose. The mouth feel was soft with added hints of cola and red berry compote. The finish was medium in length with the acidity and spices holding the faded fruits in the background.
A recent gift from my Boss's wine cellar, this wine needs to be drunk immediately. Although it has lost most of its fruit, the secondary flavors make it still enjoyable. Barely.
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8/23/2015 - cab blends wrote: 89 Points
Very light fruit in the nose. Showing its age with brown brick color. Mid palate I almost thought it was going to turn into a dessert wine. Thankfully it did not though a strong fruity mid palate. For me past its optimal prime. Drinkable and a refined lighter merlot now
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8/23/2015 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 89 Points
Light to medium body.
Brownish red hue.
Light fruit on nose.
Intriguing and enjoyable
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11/2/2014 - Millennial Drinkers Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nothing appealing initially with smell. Smooth and great with filet and grilled chicken.
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10/31/2014 - cab blends Likes this wine: 91 Points
Initial nose was disconcerting and made me dislike it initially. Barnyard and distracting. Decanted for 30 mins and the improvement was significant. Smooth and balanced tannins 6/10. Light fruit came through slightly on the nose. A hint of brick color starting. Drink as a lighter bodied ready to drink wine now.
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11/5/2012 - MoreWinePlease wrote: 92 Points
Part of a 3-way, including a 2001 Shafer Merlot(92pts), 2002 Zerba Cellars Columbia Valley Merlot (91pts). and a 2001 Etude Merlot(90pts). Initially the Etude and Shafer took front stage with their rich dark fruit/tannin profiles that overshadowed the Zerba and its zestier acid balance, more in the red fruit/red plum direction. After 90 minutes the Etude put on a lot of weight and got richer, albeit heavier as well, whereas the Shafer continued with its bright berried fruit profile to the end. The Zerba turned out more food friendly (paired w/beautifully broiled NY cut steak and fabulous salad of baby greens, goat cheese, red bells and fresh herbs) and balanced too. My favorite was the Shafer, which I gave 92pts. As much as I love great Pinot Noir, especially the best from Oregon and California, I'm reminded how good a fine, well structured Merlot can taste.
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3/10/2011 - AlexHop wrote: 91 Points
Really great Shafer Merlot. Still loads of fruit, cherry, a touch of lead. Medium bodied with supple tannins but a long finish.
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3/7/2011 - Stirling wrote: 92 Points
Dark red, little fade at the rim. Wonderful bouquet of red fruits, chaerries and plums. The nose literally leaps from the glass and greets you with its blast of ripe fruit flavours. Medium body, smooth, thick, plush mouthfeel. Flavours of plum with hints of vanilla and mocha. I often find Merlot can have subtle hints of spice cake or baking spices. I did not detect any in this wine and my score would have been a point or two higher had I picked up some more nuances or complexity. Overall a delicious and hedonistic wine. At peak now and should be able to hold there for at least another five years.
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3/5/2011 - Iam Redwood wrote: 92 Points
very nice berry, tempered by cab and cab franc blend. Wish I had more.
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1/29/2011 - xtenson wrote: 90 Points
A very nice merlot...some hints of chocolate and cola on the nose. Rich mouthfeel, just slightly sweet but definitely not into Zin-land. Only complaint is that it was all up front...no lingering mouthfeel, not the most complex wine but man it hit the spot and was quite nice as a late night sipper after a long flight!
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4/3/2010 - mgl wrote: 89 Points
Good but not as good as expected based on the other reviews
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12/24/2009 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
Mmmm, stellar, textbook Napa Merlot. A little sweet but not beyond interest. Cassis, chocolate and leaf on a rich, expressive nose. Expansive, easy palate of lush red berry and chocolate cover cherries. Slightly drying and still a little tannic on the finish.
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10/10/2009 - Iam Redwood wrote: 90 Points
not as berry as i would like for a merlot but a very solid one.
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3/8/2009 - curtr wrote: 91 Points
Wow! A special bottle when it comes to merlot. Good depth and character.
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9/13/2008 - GolferChris wrote: 92 Points
Lush, ripe and elegant merlot with lots of berry, licorice, dark chocolate and coffee aromas and flavors. Plush mouthfeel with persistent, ripe and juicy finish.
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5/12/2008 - curtr wrote: 91 Points
Very tasty merlot. Shafer is one of my favorite merlots.
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5/3/2008 - cab blends wrote: 91 Points
Did not decant and drank tasted this quickly while on the run. Good balance and body with nice fruit on the nose but not at all too strong or overpowering. I am sure that decanting would have taken the slight edge off.
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1/23/2007 - chicagobagley wrote: 92 Points
Great wine, sorry I had to finish my last one. Wonderful aromas and a very smooth wine. Still some tannins but much more integrated and smoothed out than I previously remembered this wine. Sorry to see it go, hopefully the 2002 ends up the same way.
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12/29/2006 - JBVino wrote:
solid merlot from shafer in 2001...good balance of fruit, tannin and complexity...a little sweet but not too much...main fault to the wine at the stage was its short finish. every other aspect was good, not great, but missed a bit in the finish
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11/25/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Bought off the list at the El Dorado CC. No formal notes. Started out a little musty and tight. Morphed into a round and dark tasting wine by the last glass. Very good.
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1/20/2006 - SimonG wrote:
A good bouquet, positive attack with good acidity and velvety mouthfeel, full flavour and softish tannins, Well balanced and an excellent food wine. A half bottle consumed at Pied a Terre, London.
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12/4/2005 - psmith wrote:
Plum and chocolate dark fruit nose. Full-blown lush merlot on the palate but slightly angular which exposes some heat on the finish. Medium-grain tannins and decent weight. Would be better with some decanting. **+/5
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5/12/2005 - Lou Briccant wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 45 minutes. Ripe fruit and mildly spicy nose. While this is a nice Merlot, I found this bottle to be somewhat "thinner", than my last bottle. On the palate, what was promised by the nose was delivered, only on a reduced scale. Medium bodied. Medium finish.
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4/12/2005 - Mark wrote: 91 Points
One of the better vintages of Merlot from Shafer. Structured, full bodied, lots of ripe fruit and great balance. Medium length finish with some powdered mocha. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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2/21/2005 - Mike V wrote: 89 Points
Classic Cali merlot. Pleasant sweet not tottaly inspiring. Will improve with another year.
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12/10/2004 - Mark wrote: 90 Points
Clear and dark ruby in color. A little hot on the nose at first, but balances out very nicely after an hour - it pulls itself together very well. Nose of ripe red fruit, spice, some cassis. Very smooth finish with all the notes showing in the mouth. This wine is drinking great right now.
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2/12/2004 - Eric wrote:
Tasted at McCarthy & Schiering. This pour was from a bottle than had been open from a day earlier tasting. Mmm, this is Merlot! Spicy with brown sugar and a LOT of structure. This is slightly astringent but still very nice!
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11/3/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 88 Points
If you really like the in your face extracted high alcohol Marquis Philips wines, you will like this a lot. Now, if you are like me and find that style to be over the top, you won't like this. I didn't like this for the same reason I dislike MP wines. The ripe blueberry, sweet oak, vanilla in this totally reminded me of the 02 Sarah's Blend, only $39 instead of $12. Alcohol level is a whopping 14.7% in this wine and you really taste it
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11/1/2003 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Gaack. This is not for me. Like an MP Aussie. Very hot and extracted. Underneath was intense dirred currants, but an overhot finish took that away.
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