£89.00
Founded in 1978, Shafer Vineyards is situated in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, east of the Silverado Trail and just north of the town of Napa. Although their main focus has always been luxuriant, richly textured Cabernet Sauvignons from their Stags Leap vineyards, they own and farm vineyards also in Carneros.
Low fertility, hillside sites have always been a major priority, as has the adoption of the finest, low vigour rootstocks and clones, leading to extremely low yields of small intensely concentrated grapes. They are also passionate exponents of sustainable farming practices in which they eschew all forms of chemical sprays, and their vineyards teem with natural predators including bats, owls, and a variety of insects. The resulting raw materials are of the highest quality and provide them with numerous, stylistic options in the winery.
98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, predominately from two Stags Leap District sites — Shafer’s hillside estate vineyard and the “Borderline” vineyard located about two miles south of the winery. Aged for 20 months in 100% new oak barrels (Allier & Troncais). This wine reflects the climate and soils of our Stags Leap District vineyard sites and Shafer’s commitment to meticulous, sustainable farming and quality winemaking.
A lengthy, cool, steady growing season created ideal conditions for the fruit to hang on the vine along time in the summer sun developing rich colour, alluring aromas, and luxuriant flavours.
'Good dry finish after an opulent start. Tea-leaf top notes. Very satisfying, in Napa Cab mode. Pretty long.' 17/20 jancisrobinson.com