Wine Doctrine
2010

Shafer Relentless

Tasted 13 January 2018 California · Napa Valley

Same as all of my previous notes. Always a solid performer. A bit of air coaxed out some really nice bitter chocolate, tar, railroad tie, and black pebbly flavors to accompany the core black fruit.

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Shafer
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2008

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

Napa Valley · Stags Leap District

A solid performance with this particular bottle. Decanted for a few hours, which really allowed the firm tannins to soften and the black fruit and obsidian notes to emerge. No green peppercorn or…

Reviewed 5 July 2026
1986

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

Napa Valley · Stags Leap District

Gently decanted for an hour in a small vessel. Plum, deep and dark red and black muddled cherry, leather, old cigar, torched orange rind, soil, and black currant.

Reviewed 5 January 2025
2016

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

Napa Valley · Stags Leap District

Honed, focused, chiseled, mineral, black goth berry-rock, and a mean streak all up and down it, the 2016 HSS is serious business in the best of ways. Give it another 5+ years and be rewarded. It…

Reviewed 25 May 2024
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