| Rating |
RP95 - At the top of this estate's qualitative hierarchy are their Cabernet Sauvignons. I extolled the virtues of the 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select prior to its release, and now that it is in the marketplace, it is as fabulous as I had hoped. It possesses an opaque dark purple color, and a profoundly complex nose of minerals, ripe cassis fruit, cedar, chocolate, and subtle herbs. Full-bodied yet silky, with layers of concentrated, highly extracted fruit, this wine is exceptionally well-balanced, beautifully pure, and already delicious. It is still an infant in terms of development, but I would not fault anybody for wanting to drink it. Anticipated maturity: now-2012. Readers may remember my previous lavish reviews of the Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignons. These wines have always been high class, but the quality level since 1991 has pushed Shafer's Hillside Select into an elite grouping of two dozen or so California Cabernet producers. There are 2,000-2,400 cases made of these rich, ageworthy Cabernets. Another of Napa's finest wineries, Shafer has taken full advantage of a succession of superlative vintages during the nineties, producing a powerful portfolio of brilliant wines. Since 1991, just about everything emerging from Shafer Vineyards has been high on buyers' lists. All things considered, Doug and John Shafer are at the top of their game. |
