1988 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

Community Tasting Notes (4) Median Score: 80 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Burgundy Al's profile
  • Report Issue

  9/3/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points

  Pre-Labor Day Cabernet Dinner (Casa de la Mata - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind. earthy with broad flavors and textures. Every hair is in its place, even if not particularly powerful or complex. Very good now. My 5th favorite of the flight, group's 5th as well.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View dccc's profile
  • Report Issue

  8/27/2007 - dccc wrote: 80 Points

  Tried after a short time then decanted all night in cellar. The nose was sour and the taste was bitter. I'm not sure if the wine is totally past it's time or never was that good to start with (per Robert Parker).

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View bsherwin's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/19/2006 - bsherwin wrote:

  It's amazing what a great winemaker can do with a tough vintage. I didn't quite know what to expect with this wine. Dark in the glass. Lovely nose of current and earth. Fruit left on the palate? You betcha. Vibrant fruit (black cherries and wild berries) that, I must say, was completely unexpected. Not waves and waves of layered fruit mind you, but youthful vivacious fruit that you'd expect of a much younger wine of a good vintage. Good minerality too, not that you'd mistake it for Bordeaux. Velvety mouthfeel. Developed some cocoa and dark plummy flavors with air. Smooth exit with a long, long finish. Not the most complex wine I've ever had, but superb nonetheless. It would be intesting to horizontal this wine against other '88s. I think it would stand out. This one still has some life left too.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View bestdamncab's profile
  • Report Issue

  5/9/1991 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 75 Points

  5 Cabernet and Bordeaux Reds tasted. Featured a nice cabernet nose, simple cabernet fruit in the mouth, enough acid, fruit, and tannin to suggest age might help, not my style nor those tasting with me, Fifth place, Group #5.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.