1991 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

Community Tasting Notes (63) Avg Score: 93.5 points

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  10/16/2021 - fclarity wrote: 93 Points

  Tasted blind, this wine had a deep purple center with a touch of red at the rims. It looked like a 5-10 year old wine! The medium intensity nose generated blackberry, wax, mineral, menthol, and some leesy notes.
  
  In the mouth, this wine was ripe and rich and yet light on its feet. It displayed rounded tannin, firm acidity, and excellent length. It was ripe enough that it had a "jammy" texture but it did not come off as heavy.
  
  This bottle still seemed quite young and would have showed exciting potential. However, the leesy note in the nose was troubling as this suggested a wine-making flaw that will probably not dissipate. Thus, I don't see upside here based on just this one bottle.

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  1/20/2020 - Bordeaux_Jon wrote: 91 Points

  Bottle and cork seemed in quite good condition. However, this wine seemed tired and lacking fruit. Dried red fruit, cigar, pepper and beans. I was not a fan of the vegetal element and pyrazines as Shafer is usually a fruit and oak driven cab. I had a much better bottle about 8 years ago. This wine is past peak and I advise drinking up. It came 8 of 12 in a lineup of comparable Napa Cabernet based wines.

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  10/22/2019 - mattiasjansson wrote: 96 Points

  Shafer Hillside Select in Boston - Take II (Boston): Soft tannins and medium fruit. Mature. Beautifully balanced with excellent finish. Probably at peak now.

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  5/13/2019 - Tony Ling Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Opened 2-3 hours prior to serving into Galateo Burgundy glass (“No” day): Medium ruby with very slightly bricking rims.
  
  Pronounced green bell peppery notes with darker red and black fruits. Delicate white spices.
  
  Nicely acidic and mineral. A little woody that seems a little “sweet” on the finish.
  
  92 points.

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  2/9/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: flawed

  Another Saturday at Chevalier...Mostly Blind Cabernet (Chevalier Fine Wines - Chicago IL): Corked.

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