Shafer Vineyards Stag's Leap District, Napa Valley

Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972, when Chicago publishing executive John Shafer and his family moved to the Napa Valley, purchasing a 210 acre wine estate in the Stag's Leap District. The first years as fledgling grape growers were arduous, as John and son Doug terraced the steep and rocky hillsides and replanted decades-old vineyards. Evolving from grape growers to vintners, the Shafers crushed their first Cabernet in 1978, and began construction on a winery the following year. Today, utilizing sustainable agriculture, the Shafers own and farm 200 acres of vineyard, sources for the winery's Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah. John is now chairman of the winery, Doug is president and the winemaker is the talented Elias Fernandez. The Quarterly Review of Wines refers to it as one the country's best, Decanter raves, and Robert parker states, "One of Napa's most prominent and respected wineries, Shafer is a poster boy for remarkable and consistent quality across the board. All of this is the work of the brilliant father and son team of John and Doug Shafer as well as their long-term winemaker and vineyard manager, Elias Fernandez. With over 200-plus acres of estate holdings, and 55 surrounding their winery in Stags Leap, this is a winery that never seems to disappoint."

Merlot 2009 Napa Valley "...The family-owned Shafer Vineyards is widely regarded as one of Napa's best Merlot producers." Ben Giliberti, Wine & Spirits To deliver a wine loaded with colour, extract and concentration, Shafer vineyard crews pass through the vine rows a number of times as harvest approaches cutting away less-ripe and under-developed fruit. This allows the vitality of the vine to focus on the remaining top-quality fruit. With added hang time, sugars and flavours increase markedly. The 2008 vintage brought long, sunny dry days and cool to chilly evenings to the southern Napa Valley. Temperatures rose slowly and evenly throughout the season, producing classic conditions for the development of rich, ripe Merlot. Also available in 375 mls "2009 is a great year for this varietal. The purity of aromas and flavours is focused and alive - this is unmistakably Merlot. Predominantly you'll find delicious red fruit with a core of lush black fruit - red cherry, red plum, spice and berry with hints of eucalyptus, earth and smoke. There's lots of flesh here held together in a structure of fine, ripe tannins." Elias Fernandez, winemaker

"Relentless" 2008 Napa Valley With this Syrah, Shafer honors Winemaker Elias Fernandez, whose relentless pursuit of quality has marked his nearly two decades at Shafer Vineyards. Multi-layered and expansive, Relentless combines the concentrated black cherry and blackberry flavours of Syrah with black pepper spice and an earthiness derived from Petite Sirah, both of which are planted in Shafer's Hillside vineyard adjacent to the southern border of the Stags Leap District. A deep, dark and delicious wine, Relentless is aged for approximately two and one-half years in French oak barrels. "The aromatics are full and distinct, with loads of dark berry and charcoal, then this unfolds touches of black cherry, raspberry and red and black licorice on the palate, sailing along and firming nicely on the finish. Shows all the muscle, density, richness and range of flavour found in many Shafer reds, yet takes it to another level in this vintage. The best Relentless yet. Syrah and Petite Sirah. Best from 2013 through 2023. 3,300 cases made. " 96 points, Wine Spectator, web only 2011 "Another thoroughbred in the making is the 2008 Relentless. Full-bodied with sensational extract and richness, its opaque purple colour is followed by terrific smoky barbecue notes, full-bodied opulence and tremendous depth, power and richness. This stunning Syrah can be drunk over the next 15-20 years." 95 points, Robert Parker, Dec 2010

One Point Five 2008 Stags Leap District Shafer One Point Five is an elegant, silky wine with soft tannins and abundant fruit that is approachable when young, yet capable of aging gracefully. From the first vintage, it has consistently reflected the Shafer style and commitment to quality. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and/or Cabernet Franc, it is aged for approximately 18 months in French and American oak barrels. "Slightly more powerful with sweeter fruit as well as more glycerin and fat, this is a big, full-bodied Stags Leap Cabernet offering abundant notes of roasted herbs, chocolate, cassis, incense and earth. Drink this deep, powerful 2008 over the next 10-15 years. " 92 points, Robert Parker, Dec 2010

Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 "Hillside Select" Stag's Leap District Shafer's signature wine, the Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet, produced from the best lots of grapes grown on Shafer's hillside vineyards above the winery. A reserve wine of limited production, it is a wine of a place, exemplifying the richly concentrated fruit and velvety texture of Stags Leap District fruit. Aged a full four years - two years in French oak - prior to release, it is a collector's wine, showing rich chocolate, blackberry and currant flavours. "The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select has the potential to be a perfect wine in 5 to 6 years. Although it has shut down since I tasted it last year, it is unquestionably Shafer's finest Hillside Select since the 2001 and 2002. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age and should keep for 35+ years. This selection is made from the Eisele clone of Cabernet Sauvignon planted in a choice 50-acre parcel. It takes concentration, graciousness and complexity to its highest level in Napa Valley. An inky/blue/purple colour is followed by sweet aromas of blueberries, blackberries, charcoal and subtle toast. The wine possesses fabulous concentration, a seamless/flawless personality, a textbook integration of alcohol, wood, tannin and acidity, an almost endless finish and a voluptuous texture. Exhibiting more tannin and structure than it did last year, this is a colossal wine that will still be going strong in 2050." 98+ points, Robert Parker, Dec 2010 An excerpt from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Issue 195, June 30, 2011: "I should not be surprised that the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select merited a perfect rating since I rated it 99 eight years ago. I also gave the 2002 Hillside Select a perfect rating. Kudos to Doug and John Shafer for creating two perfect wines in back to back vintages. The 2001 is a big wine (14.9% natural alcohol), but the alcohol is buried beneath an avalanche of creme de cassis, wood smoke, toast, licorice and spring flower characteristics. Super full-bodied with fabulous fruit purity, a broad, expansive mouthfeel, lots of glycerin and a huge upside, this 2001 is still an infant at age ten, but it is approachable as well as compelling to smell and taste. It has at least another three decades of aging potential ahead of it and is one of the great young, legendary classics from Napa Valley. It was a privilege to taste. There are approximately 2,000 cases of this cuvee which comes from Shafer's hillside vineyards in the Stags Leap area and is aged 32 months in 100% new French oak." 100 points

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All wines are available by the unmixed case to Licensees and Private Consumers, subject to availability.

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