Powerful finish with big, but balanced tannins, good acidity, and outstanding persistence. Aromas of volcanic ash, red cherry and blackcurrant. OutstandingĢ014 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon - This is Shafer's most renowned Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from 14 small blocks of estate vineyard the yields are small, but the flavors and complexities of these grapes are remarkable. Zesty acidity, excellent balance and complexity with elegant tannins. Bright purple aromas of black plum, blackberry pie and violets. OutstandingĢ015 Relentless - A blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Petite Syrah. Lovely harmony! Superb Cabernet Sauvignon character, Lovely, lovely wine that is just a baby. Medium-full with excellent concentration. Aromas of blackcurrant, black plum and vanilla. This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stags Leap District. Although in reality, it is two generations, the Shafers use the term one point five to differentiate their story. ExcellentĢ015 One Point Five - The name of this wine refers to 1.5 generations of Shafers: John and Doug. Excellent complexity, rich tannins, spicy, peppery finish and tantalizing ripe fruit. Medium-full with very good concentration. Black cherry, red plum and red rose aromas. OutstandingĢ016 TD-9 - TD-9, named for an old tractor John Shafer would drive in the vineyards, is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Beautifully balanced, with subtle wood notes, this is superbly made, and id a highly distinctive California Chardonnay. Medium-full, lovely balance, bright fruit, very good acidity and excellent richness on the palate and in the finish. Tasting Notes on Current Shafer Vineyard ReleasesĢ016 Chardonnay "Red Shoulder Ranch" (Carneros) - From a vineyard owned by Shafer, 75% of this wine was aged in new oak, with the other 25% aged solely in steel the wine was not put through malolactic, which emphasizes the freshness of the fruit. You work as hard as you can, and ultimately the people who buy the wine have the final say." "In terms of it becoming this well-known, that's only something that consumers can decide. "I think we felt this was a special place," Shafer comments, "which is why Dad organized the neighbors and spent four years petitioning the government to establish the AVA (American Viticultural Appellation). I asked Doug Shafer about working in the Stags Leap District, noting that they surely had no idea back in the 1970s that it would one day become as important a wine district as it has today. By then, Shafer Vineyards had achieved a stellar reputation not only from local media, but also many of the most important wine critics in the world, including Robert Parker, Jr., who in 2003, wrote that Shafer was one of the "greatest wineries in the world." Not bad for a father and son from Chicagoland! Chardonnay from the Red Shoulder Ranch in Carneros, to the south, was first produced from the 1994 vintage, while Relentless, a blend of Syrah and Petite Syrah, was initially crafted from the 1999 vintage. Other varieties followed Merlot became one of Shafer's top wines, beginning with the 1983 vintage.
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