At the top of this estate's qualitative hierarchy are their Cabernet Sauvignons. The 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is an outstanding wine that is close in quality to the 1992 and 1991. The 1993 boasts an opaque purple color, as well as a sweet, smoky nose of licorice, blackcurrants, minerals, and vanillin. Huge, rich, and full-bodied, with fabulous concentration and extract, but harder tannin than the 1992 or 1994, this is a large-scaled, well-balanced, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon to drink between 2000-2020. 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.

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A subtle, well-balanced style that weaves together complex tobacco, cigar box, currant and spice flavors. Turns beefy, with leather, mineral and sage notes and firm tannins.--1993 California Cabernet retrospective. 2,000 cases made.

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Dark purple, intense, but to me it is not well integrated. OK, but not a delight. 89