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Tasting notes
TD-9 is a proprietary blend that celebrates a bold move. In 1973, in the space of a few months, John Shafer went from riding morning commuter trains in Chicago to teaching himself to drive a TD-9 tractor in his Napa Valley vineyard. He’d never grown grapes or made wine in his life. TD-9 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec from a vineyard in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains just south of Stags Leap District. Aged for 20 months in 60-gallon French oak barrels (100% new). Dark ruby. A really very alluring blend of ripeness and savour. Not too heavy with some pace – even if quite a bit of sweetness, counterbalanced by fine tannin and freshness. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2018 TD-9 Proprietary Red Blend is based on 56% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Malbec. It's another balanced, charming, and impeccably made wine from this estate that has lively red and blue fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and licorice aromas and flavors as well as a medium to full-bodied, elegant style on the palate. It shows the more streamlined, focused style of the 2018 vintage and is going to evolve for 10-12 years.
The 2018 TD-9, Shafer's Merlot-based blend, is just as delicious from bottle as it was from barrel. Succulent dark red cherry/red plum fruit, licorice, spice, lavender and dried herbs are front and center. Readers will find a gorgeous 2018 that is ready to deliver plenty of pleasure from the get-go.
A blend of 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Red Blend TD-9 displays a medium to deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of blueberry compote, mulberries and plum preserves plus nuances of potpourri, dried Provence herbs and tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a lively backbone creating great tension with the ripe, plummy flavors and rounded tannins, finishing with an enticing herbal lift.
About the producer
The site of Shafer has been around since 1880, and grapes continued to be grown here, even during prohibition. It is said that some wine was made here during that time. In 1972, John Shafer bought the property in the Stag’s Leap district, he immediately began planting the Cabernet on the hillside.