Shafer Hillside Select Stags Leap District 2018

Description

Founded in 1978, Shafer Vineyards is situated in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, east of the Silverado Trail and just north of the town of Napa. Although their main focus has always been luxuriant, richly textured Cabernet Sauvignons from their Stags Leap vineyards, father and son John and Doug Shafer also own and farm vineyards throughout Napa Valley and Carneros. Low fertility, hillside sites have always been a major priority, as has the adoption of the finest, low vigour rootstocks and clones, leading to extremely low yields of small intensely concentrated grapes. They are also passionate exponents of sustainable farming practices in which they eschew all forms of chemical sprays and their vineyards teem with natural predators including bats, owls, and a variety of insects. The resulting raw materials are of the highest quality and provide them with numerous, stylistic options in the winery. Winemaking, in the hands of Doug Shafer and Elias Fernandez, also follows a similar philosophy of allowing the fruit full expression and with a minimum of intervention.

Hillside Select is one of California’s greatest red wines. It is produced from carefully selected blocks surrounding the winery (The Sunspot, John's Upper Seven, Venado Illegal & Firebreak) exclusively in the Stags Leap District. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured for 32 months in 100% new Alliers and Troncais barrels. A lengthy, cool, steady growing season created ideal conditions for the fruit to hang on the vine a long time in the summer sun developing rich colour, alluring aromas, and luxuriant flavours.

2018 Hillside Select is an enticing balance of opulence and energy. This classic Cabernet Sauvignon fills the glass with vivid aromas of blackberry, black cherry, warm earth, and baking spice. The flavors richly echo the wine’s aromas, adding juicy layers of summer briar fruit, berry compote, cinnamon, lively red and black plums, and mocha with a long, radiant finish. Structured tannins offer the promise of a lengthy, sumptuous tenure in your cellar. Elias Fernandez Just as it was from barrel, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is stunning. Bright acids give the 2018 tons of energy. This is an especially midweight, refined Hillside Select that is all class. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, mint and blood orange build in the glass. Elegant and bright, the 2018 shows all the energy of the year in spades. Drink 2026 – 2043. 98pts. Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select displays a deep garnet-purple color. It charges out of the gate with bold crème de cassis, blueberry pie and black cherry preserves notes, plus hints of smoked meats, fragrant earth and tar, with a fragrant waft of violets and Provence herbs. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with muscular black fruits, supported by a solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and compelling freshness, finishing long with an enticing herbal lift. Drink 2025 – 2050. 98+pts. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate