Reviews & Ratings

2013 Shafer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon "Hillside Select"

Winery: Shafer Vineyards

Vintage: 2013

Wine Name/Vineyard: "Hillside Select"

Wine Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Grape blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Stags Leap

State or country: CA

Price: $285

Cases produced: 2,400

KWG Score: 95.4 (based on 5 reviews)

Ken's Wine Rating: Excellent (95)

Review date: October 22, 2017

Wine Review: This dark red and slightly opaque colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Shafer is Excellent! It opens with a monster musty oak and black cherry bouquet with a hint of black licorice. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, smooth and fruit forward. The flavor profile is a cassis and black licorice blend with notes of minerality and oak. I also detected some hints of plum. The finish is dry and its huge sticky tannins show very nice length. Therefore, I would say this wine has a huge life ahead of it if you choose to cellar it. If you can’t wait, then decant it and serve it with a well-marbled ribeye steak. Enjoy - Ken

Winemaker Notes: The 2013 Hillside Select is a rich, expansive wine balanced by liveliness and energetic aromas and flavors. This vintage is a liquid feast of black cherry, dark chocolate, briar fruit, black tea, cola, blackberry, tobacco, and a touch of aromatic herbs. All this abundance comes wrapped in slate minerality while wearing its Stags Leap District tannins with silky ease. It may be difficult to put off drinking this 100% hillside Cabernet Sauvignon but it is sure to offer greater riches with time in your cellar.

Buy it: Use 1000 Corks to find stores that sell Shafer 2013 Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon.