Vinunic invited to a tasting of new releases from Shafer. Matthew Sharp and Jake Watson from the estate presented the wines and talked among other things about the recent sale of Shafer to a Korean company.
Lots of Shafer tasting notes below.
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| Matthew Sharp |
2021 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay
Less oaky than in the past - I liked the old style... - but this is really good to. :-) The nose is open and forward with notes of grilled lemons, yellow plums, white flowers and hints of matchbox.
The taste is young and nicely concentrated with rich yellow fruit, a fine balance and a very good acidity, leaving the mouth dry at the finish. 4+ years.
92p (tasted 2022/11)
2019 TD-9
Last vintage of TD-9. From 2020 it will be called just Cabernet Sauvignon since it will consist of more than 75% Cabernet. Then it will be three levels of Shafer Cabernet - Cabernet, One Point Five and Hillside Select.
The nose is open and fine with notes of plums, black cherries, tobacco and ripe herbs. Very, very good.
The taste is juicy and direct with notes of black currants, plums, hot earth and herbs. Long and lush. 4+ years.
55% Cabernet, 33% merlot, 8% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot.
91p (tasted 2022/11)
2019 One Point Five
This 83% Cabernet, 12% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot wine oozes up from the glass with gorgeous notes of ripe black currants, forest floor, bay leaves, tiles and sugared coffee. Very fine.
The taste is taut and bold with notes of dried up black currant jam, cigarr smoke, lavender, tiles and tobacco. Very, very long with juicy tannins. 6+ years.
93p (tasted 2022/11)
2018 Relentless
A beauty. A finely focused notes with notes of ripening blackberries, black pepper, asphalt, fir wood and a lovely perfumed note.
The taste is broad yet refined with gorgeous peppered black fruit, silky tannins and a long, long finish. A very fine spicy note. Great wine. 6+ years. 76% Syrah, 24% Petite Sirah.
95p (tasted 2022/11)
2017 Hillside Select
Its always an honour to taste the Hillside Select. The 2017 shows of a very deep, magical nose with notes of ripe black currants, wet cement, black flowers, graphite and bonfire smoke. It took some time to open in the glass but then...
The taste is very concentrated and focused with every component - fruit, tannins, acidity - in perfect place. It will just need 8+ year. Stunning wine.
97p (tasted 2022/11)
2012 Hillside Select
The 2012 is not as stunning as the 2017 but still a very good wine. The nose is big and forward with notes of cooked black currants, wet asphalt, fir wood and decaying flowers. Very, very deep.
The taste is rich and rewarding with notes of (over)ripe black currants, Finnish licorice, leather and charcoal. Very, very long. For drinking now and the coming 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2022/11)
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