Smooth tannins and tart red fruit create marvelous balance and beg for locally-sourced and perfectly seared lamb chops. Very Highly Recommended. 95 points.
Huge black fruits, dark chocolate, freshly-turned earth, seared beef fat, and eucalyptus make two big fists and punch their way out of the bottle and into your heart. It will pair beautifully with a well-marbled ribeye, but it's just as good all by itself. Highly Recommended.
This is one of America's First Growths, and, given the two decades it could use to show its best, it will reward the drinker with more than a glass of wine. It will offer an experience in richness, complexity, and the layers of flavors, some maturing and some still barrel-fresh, one has come to expect from Shafer's flagship wine. Very Highly Recommended. 99 points.
The palate is huge, with fresh and dried black cherries, blueberries, espresso, unsweetened chocolate, and cloves. Tannins are powerful and smooth, mouth feel big and meaty. Drink with well-marbled ribeye to tame the big tannins and let the fruit flow. Very Highly Recommended. 95 points.
Blackberry, plums, and boysenberry explode on the palate, carried along by rich mocha, hints of herbs, and velvety tannins. Drink with dry-aged Strip with shallot butter. Very Highly Recommended. 95 points.
