Wine Doctrine
2014

Shafer Relentless

Tasted 7 February 2018 California · Napa Valley

Wild blackberry, plum, asphalt, wood, charcuterie, and some garrigue. Some quasi-interesting flavors trying to self-identify, but overall lacking much-needed complexity and finesse. Powerful and clumsy, like a…

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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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