Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap District

Wow… so glad I held this wine for a decade+. It had this perfect balance of fruit and a nice subdued tannin finish. My only regret was this was my last bottle. We paired it with a simple filet and it was amazing.

2012 vintage

Excellent though seemed more subdued than a recent magnum we drank for Christmas.

2012 vintage

Outstanding from magnum.

2012 vintage

Decanted three hours before service, just about right. In the glass, deep, saturated dark magenta - looks like it was just bottled. On the nose, currants, kirsch, cocoa, and a faint hint of leather. On the palate, pure Napa fruit - more currants, plums, and blueberries, delivered on a smooth, silky, enticing attack and mid-palate. Velvety. Silky tannins arrive on a long finish. This is entirely approachable now, and it's going to be tough to stay away from this one, …

2012 vintage

Dark purple in color. Not showing any clear on the edge. Fruit forward still. Blackberries and kirsch. Tannins still present but not over powering. This has many more years in it.

2012 vintage

Double-decanted for one hour despite longer recommendations from other CT notes, then taken to the restaurant and poured about an hour later. On the first pour, the wine showed an immediate surge of tannins with powerful fruit, so we decided to pause and enjoy a white while giving it more time to open up. The color is a deep ruby. The nose is expressive and inviting. On the palate, concentrated notes of mocha, minerals, leather, licorice, and spice come through …

2009 vintage

This bottle was opened for two hours prior to dinner and then decanted. The nose was dark berries with a hint of menthol. The palate was dark berries, plums, figs, charred meat and tree bark. The finish was long.

2012 vintage

Glass: Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux Popped and poured. Clear, deep inky purple-ruby color. Clean, pronounced, massive youthful-developing nose with lots of black currant, floral notes (violets) , fine toasting, spices and some licorice. Very deep, dense and complex. On the palate very dense, deep, creamy and with a beautiful silky, velvet texture. The tannin is certainly high, but of excellent quality. The high 15,5% abv is noticeable, but still in balance. This Hillside is still driven by fruit. Lots of black …

2009 vintage

Slow oxed for three hours before decanting for two prior to dinner. This simply blew me away like no other Hillside ever has. Inky dark in the glass with no signs of bricking or age. The mouthfeel was the best I can remember ever having - the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. Impeccable balance and a finish that goes on and on. Did I mention that I liked this? I can’t imagine this improving, but I don’t see …

2012 vintage

Opened at the restaurant. Amazing straight out of the bottle. Deep ruby/purple color in the glass, no signs of aging in the color. Lots of red and blue fruits on the nose and palate. Did also get some earthy notes. Robust structure and long finish. Fairly low acidity but not in such a way that seemed unbalanced with the well integrated tannins. Silky and rich mouthfeel. For my preferred style, it is drinking perfectly right now. Wish I had another …

2012 vintage

Excellent but not stunning like our May bottle.

2009 vintage

decanted the magnum for 4hrs and served with a full Thanksgiving feast. paired incredibly well with everything.

2009 vintage

Drinking beautifully right now, starting to show early signs of maturity and prominent softening of tannins, but with many years left. Purple color, fully intact along the rim, wonderful nose, gorgeous legs, exquisite purity of fruit and a balanced mouthfeel that makes the wine feel weightless yet fully plush and full. We were blown away by this wine tonight, and in celebration of Ringo's birthday yesterday. Mom says she wishes this wine to be the only wine that she ever …

2012 vintage

What a great wine. Cherries, currants, plums and blueberries are so smooth and deep. Finish just keeps changing. Has a long way to go.

2012 vintage

Enjoyed with Blattners and Kepes’s

2009 vintage

Deep color, good nose. Decanted for an hr. Served with burgers. Finish was a bit dry. Overall expected more. Hold or sell.

2012 vintage

Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold

2009 vintage

What can you say? Shafer delivers in almost every vintage and this is not an exception. Very balanced dark fruits with super smooth tannins.

2009 vintage

Garnet/purple, color depth was medium + intense with slight bricking along the rim. Intense nose of cherry and red currant jam, violets and an abundance of oak descriptors that include leather and cigar box. Palate was very long finish, with loads of velvet tannins and medium acidity. The heavy oak integrated well after an hour of being open. 97 point potential in 5 years ish. 96 last night

2012 vintage

Decanted for 90 minutes. I can't say enough about this wine. It's definitely up there with the best I have ever tasted. Lush, opulent and absolutely wonderful. It's perfectly balanced and round with just the tight amount of lush dark friut buttressed by bright acidity and sweet silky pearl essent tannins, with a finish that goes on for minutes. What a beauty! Can go another 10 years but why wait.drink up!

2012 vintage

One hour slow ox followed by two hours in the RBxJR Old Wine decanter. This bottle was exceptional. Will likely improve over the next 10-15 years. Drink or hold.

2012 vintage

Fantastic bottle of mature HSS opened for our 30th anniversary. Really, it was a great wine that suffered by being served after a 2013 Carter Three Kings To Kalon cab that earned my highest score ever (98).

2009 vintage

Wow what an amazing wine. The fruit just opens up with currants, berries and plums rolling on top of each other. Finishes for ever. Long time to go on this one.

2009 vintage

When I pulled the cork bright blue fruit raced out of the bottle. After three hours slow ox blu fruit remains on the nose along with graphite, tight wood, some heat and clay. Nicely balanced but fruit is more prominent with the structure a bit light, offering 10-15 sec finish. Blueberries continue to dominate along with watery blackberry and well-integrated tannins. 15 1/2% listed alcohol seems close but maybe a bit light. I have two more bottles which I'll drink …

2012 vintage

Decanted for 3 hours and brought to a Korean BBQ. When it was first opened it was a wall of tanin on the palate and sweet oak on the nose. After the decant the sweet fruit really comes forward, but not the Thomas river brown style of fake candy sweet, real preserved raspberry and blackberry sweet, with a mint undertone and a acid backbone that prevents it from going overboard. That being said, it is still a little too adolescent …

2009 vintage

Decanted for 3 hours. Had a soapy smelling glass to start but got a different one. Aromas of blackberry, currant, sweet cherry and bit of earth. Not a bad nose but certainly not jumping out of the glass. Flavors of blackberry, currant, dusty berry, iron, melted chocolate and hint of earth. Ends with a long finish of 45+ seconds with mocha and black currant notes. Not hot at all even though 15.5 %. Only thing missing was the somewhat shy …

2012 vintage

PNP as terrible as that is for this wine. Purchased on Spectrum Auction (6 btls) ullage minimal and cork was great. All said this isn't a PNP wine at this time and requires hours of decanting and or a couple of more years to soften. Full bodied chewy tannins however very astringent under the circumstances.

2009 vintage

I continue to be underwhelmed by the Hillside Select. Tried two bottles of the '12 with friends and we were all "okay it's good but meh". It never helps a bottle when expectations are set high and maybe this was part of the problem. The good side is that the '12 is in early drinking window and have plenty of time left. I can see this improve over time and easily last 20 years.

2012 vintage

This wine is a propoer Wow! Big and rich to be sure but is light on its large feet. The big structure of acidity and tannin giving this an almost racy character. Fruit cake, quince. Drinking beautifully now, will last for many years but right now it has a wonderful vibrancy of fruit that it would be a shame to miss.

2009 vintage

After 3 hours of decanting, still wasn't close - integrated, just didn't taste good. By hour 5, magnificent - tannins have mellowed, balanced acidity, fruit is shining through in an appropriately reserved way, long finish, etc. Everything you expect from an All-Star.

2009 vintage

Drank at 67 A big wine

2009 vintage

Well my good friend Michael and his wife came over for dinner and since he is the one that got me into collecting wine and it was also the night before my younger daughters birthday I decided to open some nice Cabernets to go with the individual beef wellingtons we were having for dinner. This bottle was opened and but not decanted 5 hours prior to dinner and poured using a vintorio. The nose was dark berries with a hint …

2012 vintage

Intense, almost overpowering core of blueberry compote, with notes of smoky cedar, pine needles and spearmint. Too young for me; wait at least 3-5 years for next one.

2012 vintage

Same as before. Pretty much a cocktail rather than a wine.

2012 vintage

Similar to prior notes afte double decanting for 3.5 hrs; outstanding, drink or hold

2009 vintage

Part of a super premium night with my wine group. The 2012 Shafer Hillside Select and the 2013 Hundred Acre Few and Far Between. They were both opened and decanted for about 90 minutes before pouring. Sometimes I'm hesitant to bring such wines to a restaurant because I'm usually pop 'n pouring, but I was able to get there very early, and the restaurant supplied me with the 2 decanters, and that made a big difference. For me, it is …

2012 vintage

Similar notes to June 2023. Magnum this time. Drank over 3 days; better on day 2 but best on day 3. Day 3 notes: Full bodied, ripe black fruit: blackberry liqueur, black cherry, cassis, dust, some floral notes, very fine sweet tannins; 30 sec finish. Recommend long Slo-ox or decant, checking often.

2009 vintage

Excellent window right now for this wine. Resolved tannins, gorgeous fruit, impeccable balance, and a long lasting finish that makes this wine one of the most enjoyable experiences I've has in a while. Impressive structure and feels like it has years and years left on it to evolve. W-Katie and Tim w-cheese/ crackers.

2009 vintage

Similar to prior notes after double decanting for 2.5 hrs; outstanding, very consistent, drink or hold. Had it with the 2010 Paul Hobbs Dr. Crane & although both were equally outstanding, they were different on both nose & palate

2009 vintage

At home in Fl with Phil of the valley and BB Decanted for two hours Dark dense color Big Cali cab nose Young but tasty, full body, minimal signs of aging Would revisit in 5-7 years

2009 vintage

Splash decant then 30 minutes in glasses. Sublime nose of black fruits, licorice and leather. Medium to full bodied and well balanced. Terrific fruit density, weight and polish. Black currants, cassis liqueur on the palate. Spine of sweet tannins envelopes the mouth with a lasting finish, leading one's desire to keep the remainder close by for another pour. Paired perfectly with a prime tenderloin filet. Absolute a fresh-tasting with 14 years on the vintage.

2009 vintage

Napa Walkabout Tasting @ Park 90 – dark berries, baritone, wood/oak present.

2012 vintage

Had this one before a few years back and it was epic but I must say it is not holding up as well as I hoped drink these babies soon

2012 vintage

From magnum. Just in a great spot with all the depth and complexity you’d expect from Shafer

2009 vintage

Drank alongside a 2013 Bevan Harbison Cabernet. The Bevan was terrific, but the Shafer was the unanimous group choice (4 of 4). Both were de anted for about an hour. The Bevan was bigger, while the Shafer was more balanced, silky and nuanced. Of course the Shafer had four more years of bottle age and both bottles brought smiles to everyone’s face.

2009 vintage

Premiere Napa Valley; 2/22/2023-3/25/2023 (Napa, California) : Dark broody fruit, graphite, crushed stones, pencil lead, fresh earth and dark chocolate. The palate was full bodied and powerful with plenty of energy rushing through the palate. So much focus and precision throughout, I feel this might show even better in 5-10 years time. A pleasure to taste.

2012 vintage

3 hours to open up, saved half for day 2. Sluggish right out of the bottle , this soon showed it’s a Classic. Rich and dark, plum, blackberry, black olive, earth and gravel. Grainy tannins, fantastic tension. 97+ on second day.

2012 vintage

Similar to prior notes after double decanting for 2 hrs; outstanding, drink or hold

2009 vintage

Excellent. And, ensure you decent for at least four hours.

2009 vintage

VT Group Tasting Vol. 3 : Tasted double blind. No detailed notes taken. This showed extremely well, fully open and singing with intense Napa fruit, which typical for Shafer HS, is in the bright blue and black forest berry corner of the spectrum. Additional complexity with well-defined herbal and minerality notes as well as just hints of chocolate. The highlight is the very round, and elegant frame with a weightless quality to it (in the napa universe). This should age …

2009 vintage

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Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap District

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