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Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (750ML)
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Critic Scores, Reviews & Descriptions
100 JD / 99 JS / 98+ WA / 98 VM / 98 FS / 97 WE / 16.5++ JR
#25 James Suckling's Top 100 American Wines of 2022
#61 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2022
Incredible purity and precision, as well as opulence, define the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, and this is as good as any Cabernet Sauvignon in the world today. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as a thrilling bouquet of pure crème de cassis, black raspberries, spring flowers, lead pencil shavings, and an incredible minerality, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, seamless texture, ample mid-palate depth, and a great finish. This is classic 2018 Napa Valley with its purity, freshness and precision as well as sensational concentration and perfectly integrated acidity, tannins, and alcohol. It delivers pleasure today yet warrants a solid 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to be a 30- to 40-year wine.—Jeb Dunnuck
So much black licorice in this, together with tar, blackcurrants, blackberries and slate. Full-bodied, but very toned and focused, with polish and energy. Extremely fine tannins and wonderful length. All about balance and purity. Gorgeous now, but this will age for decades to come. Great finish. Better after 2026. - James Suckling
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. Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
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 mid-weight, 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-Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Crushed plum and mocha have a hint of mint on the nose and immediately point to intense concentration. The palate then is a sumptuous swish of utterly concentrated but aromatic fruit, edged with freshness and revealing layers of smoke, blackberry, cocoa and mocha. Ripe tannins are firm but smooth and underlined by fine, mouth-watering acidity. A picture of sleek, smooth, bundled power.-Anne Krebiehl MW, Falstaff
Massive, deep impenetrable colour. Lovely intensity on the nose, of youthful, briary and bitter black-cherry/damson fruit. Generous, plush palate with great length, fine tannins and plenty of oak yet to be fully soaked up by the concentrated fruit. Still youthful, this has masses of potential.-Andy Howard MW, JancisRobinson
