Benchmark Wines by

Shafer

The Winery

Shafer Vineyards

"One of the world's greatest wineries."
- Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate

Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer left a 23-year career in the publishing industry and, with his family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate in Napa Valley's Stags Leap District, the Shafer family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards, which dated to the 1920s, and terracing the steep and rocky hillsides, eventually expanding vineyard acreage to its current 50 acres.

Evolving from grape growers to vintners, the Shafers crushed their first Cabernet grapes in 1978 and began construction on their winery a year later. The first Shafer Cabernet became a benchmark, winning the acclaimed San Francisco Vintners Club taste-off upon release and, over a decade later taking first place in an international blind tasting held in Germany, where it outranked such wines as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour and Chateau Palmer.

Doug Shafer became winemaker in 1983 after graduating from the University of California at Davis with a degree in enology and viticulture. A year later Elias Fernandez joined the winery as assistant winemaker. Together Doug and Elias have worked closely to forge the Shafer style of quality, consistency and elegance. From a modest beginning of 1,000 cases in 1978, the winery has grown steadily until reaching its present size of 32,000 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah.

www.shafervineyards.com

2001
3 In Stock
750ml
WE94
WS92
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Tasting Notes

WE94
Shafer makes it look so easy to produce these lush, massively textured Cabs. This baby has polished flavors of cassis and cherry so rich that they practically overwhelm the powerful tannins. It will certainly be succulent now with a juicy T-bone but is clearly a cellar candidate. However, age will rob it of the robust, juicy fruit of youth.
WS92
Packed with dense, rich flavors built around a core of spicy currant, blackberry, plum and chocolate, with touches of cedary oak, anise and nice earthy scents. Ample tannins, too, yet the finish persists with a strong show of flavors.

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