2011 Shafer Merlot Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
(15.1% alcohol): Good dark red. Musky currant and milk chocolate aromas are complemented by smoky oak. Rich and truffley on the palate, with inviting sweetness to the flavors of cherry, licorice, coffee bean and fresh herbs. Doesn't have the depth of the best vintages here but this broad, chewy wine finishes with sweet tannins and very good persistence.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright red berries, flowers, mint, spices and savory herbs jump from the glass in the 2011 Merlot. The aromas and flavors are bright, perfumed and beautifully nuanced in this vintage. Sweet floral notes reappear on the mid-weight finish. Ideally, the 2011 is best enjoyed over the next few years. The 2011 is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.
The 2011 Merlot (76% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot) exhibits a similar dense purple color along with slightly more subdued aromas of coffee beans, black cherries, black fruits and spice. It does not reveal the viscosity, density and overall completeness of the 2010. Nevertheless, this is a successful effort in a far more challenging vintage. Drink it over the next 6-9 years. This was a fascinating tasting with one of the superstar reference point/iconic wineries in all of California. Shafer-s Relentless project has been a huge success since the debut. Blending Syrah and Petite Sirah, aging it for a long time in French oak, and not compromising on any element of the winemaking process has put them at the top of the Rhone Ranger sweepstakes. From the Stags Leap District, the Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five was named by the Shafers to honor the generation and a half of the family that has been involved in this winery-s success. Turning to Shafer-s Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon is akin to entering one of the world's museums of liquid art. This is unquestionably one of California-s, and the world's, most iconic and greatest wines. When Chateau Latour bought the Araujo estate, I thought the entire value of the Shafers and of this particular vineyard probably jumped by 30-50% because of that purchase. This is a first-growth wine from a magical site, and it has been one of the top half dozen or so California Cabernet Sauvignons in every vintage since the early nineties. That's a remarkable track record. In every vintage it is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged an uncommonly long time (32 months) in 100% French oak, yet you would never know that. The Shafers remain disarmingly modest about what they have achieved, but this is utterly profound, world-class wine that any wine lovers who enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon need to sample at least once in their life. www.shafervineyards.com
Shafer's 2011 Merlot jumps from the glass with dark cherries, spices, sage, mint and licorice. There is good juiciness and depth in the Merlot. The 2011 is a bit darker in tonality than the 2010. This is a terrific effort for the year. The 2011 is 76% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.
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.