Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Dark and muscular, with blackberry and graphite aromas and youthful, concentrated black cherry and mocha fruit that show notes of roasted herb, with a hint of game. Drink now through . 10,000 cases made.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Very ripe, very sweet and awash in very obvious oak, this outgoing wine embraces the Shafer style to a "tee". It is full, fat and fleshy on the palate with layers of mocha, black cherries, vanilla and cream running its length, but it is also a bit hot at the finish with a rise in last-minute tannins that says it would be wise to set it aside for a few years despite its many immediate appeals.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Still turning out one of California's top Merlots, the 2007 Merlot (which merited an identical rating last year) combines the elegance and classicism of the Stags Leap viticultural region with the rich berry and chocolaty fruit of Napa Valley. This sexy, lush, medium-bodied, pure Merlot will offer delicious drinking now and over the next 7-8 years.
As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.