Shafer Napa Valley Merlot (375ML half-bottle) 2008
Merlot
from Napa Valley, California
winemaker's notes:
The lengthy spring and summer offered seemingly endless stretches of warm, sunny days and cool
nights. A gentle heat spell warmed up our vineyards in early September at exactly the right time to
usher in the harvest of gorgeous fruit.
2008 Merlot has a lively, perfumy nose that begins the moment the bottle is opened – delicious
aromas of red cherry, raspberry, red plum, cherry kirsch. In the mouth are rich, juicy,
palate-enveloping flavors of pure red and black fruit, red licorice, and hints of mint and toasted
almonds. The tannins are round and smooth and part of the long, pleasing finish.
Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
critical acclaim:
"A huge, fruit-packed wine, made in the Shafer style of mass and potency. With 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and lots of new oak, it’s explosive in black cherry, cherry liqueur and cedar flavors, with a spicy, salty umami taste, like pepperoni. Give it a decant of several hours."
93 Points
Wine Enthusiast
"Good full red. Redcurrant, cherry, cedar and rose petal on the nose. Supple, silky and sweet, with an essentially gentle quality to the red fruit flavors. Finishes with suave, fine-grained tannins and very good length. This juicy merlot wears its alcohol gracefully. Winemaker Elias Fernandez used a bit of malbec to add color and broaden the palate."
90 Points
International Wine Cellar
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