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In 2003 Robert Parker called the Shafer Estate, "one of the world’s greatest wineries." The Shafer family is no stranger to the spotlight, receiving critical praise from wine critics abound. The family has produced Wine Spectators "Wine of the Year" along with being recognized by the James Beard Foundation as "Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year." Through all their success and accolades the Shafer Vineyards has remained one of Napa's premier Family owned and operated Estates. There's no better time than now to discover the magic of family-produced Cabernet from one of Napa's best.

It's important to recognize that Shafer is still a family operation and very much hands-on. The total production at Shafer is significantly less than many of the large, well-known commercial brands. You can taste the difference.

Shafer Vineyards is a 30,000 case winery in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District managed by the father and son team of John and Doug Shafer. The Shafer family owns and farms 200 acres of vineyards, sources for Shafer’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.

"Elias Fernandez, in his usually understated manner, has engineered quite a feat at Shafer over the last few years in gradually bringing added vibrancy and freshness to these wines without saying much. Then again, the wines speak for themselves. Today, the style at Shafer is very contemporary and quite different from the image many consumers have about the wines. Readers who have not tasted Shafer in some years owe it to themselves to do so. The art of reinvention is very much alive here." ~Vinous Media

The highly coveted 2021 vintage is a year quickly disappearing from cellars. Vinous Media scored 2021 at 97 points, stating: “"Two thousand twenty-one is a fabulous vintage in Napa Valley. That’s the good news. The not so good news is that production is down sharply, 30-50% in many cases."

Aging: 28 months in 100% new French oak barrels

• 3 bottles of 2021 Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
  

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out with powerful notes of creme de cassis, plum preserves, and juicy blueberries giving way to an undercurrent of tar, candied violets, and star anise. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and impactful, delivering a firm, grainy texture and well-knit freshness to support the generous black and blue fruits, finishing long with loads of mineral and exotic spices sparks. This is impressive. ~98-100 The Wine Independent

Such a beautifully balanced wine with tremendous staying power and expressive Stags Leap ironstone minerality with heady sagebrush and conifer notes with white pepper and walnut husk. The wine has an impressive depth of red-toned fruit on the mid-palate framed by tannins that practically dance across the palate, exuding length, tension, and power. Huckleberry and black cherry fruits, black truffle, dried violets, graphite, and salted dark chocolate are all framed by racy acidity, which keeps everything fresh and lifted. The 2021 releases mark Elias Fernandez's 38th vintage as Shafer's winemaker. He was hired by John Shafer in 1984, two weeks out of UC Davis. ~99 Decanter

All Cabernet Sauvignon from specific hillside blocks on the estate, Shafer's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select spent 28 months in 100% new French oak. It's a big, ripe wine, weighing in at 15.5% alcohol, but it remains harmonious from front to back. Deep, intense aromas of black cherries and cassis are accented by dried spices on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and textural, showing tremendous intensity and length on the finish. Based on how previous examples have aged, this vintage should drink well through 2050. ~99 Wine Advocate

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is insanely beautiful. It's also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted here. Bright, pliant and resonant, the 2021 offers a beguiling mix of Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics, generous fruit and gentle structure. The stylistic shift at Shafer has been remarkable—the 2021 is a great example. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, menthol, pine and sweet spice build into the eternal finish. ~99 Vinous Media

As always, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that will spend 28 months in new barrels. Its deep purple hue gives way to a behemoth of a wine that has incredible cassis, black raspberry, and even blue fruits to go with loads of camphor, minty herbs, graphite, and darker chocolate. It's full-bodied, concentrated, yet pure, flawlessly balanced, and has a great finish. ~97 Jeb Dunnuck

Profound and full-bodied with an intensity of aromas and flavors, this sophisticated and ample Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of the region's icons. Made from the Shafer's hillside vineyards, this red carries a core of dark fruits, crushed rocks, and savory elements of mushroom followed aromas of aromatic forest. Abundant, fine tannins and a lengthy finish mean the wine will continue to develop with age, but will also benefit from another several years in bottle. Enjoy with prime rib or another cut of succulent meat. Enjoy. ~97 Wine Enthusiast

Substitutions of featured wines may be made at BHW's discretion.