Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 2018

Shafer Vineyards' Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon is the iconic flagship wine from the Stags Leap District in Napa Valley, California. The 2018 vintage marks the 40th release of this celebrated wine, renowned for its power, complexity, and exceptional aging potential.

Winemaking and Aging

The 2018 Hillside Select is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, sourced exclusively from Shafer's hillside estate vineyards. These steep, rocky vineyards yield low quantities of intensely flavored fruit. The wine was aged for 32 months in 100% new French oak barrels, which contribute to its luxurious texture and complexity.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep garnet-purple with a striking intensity.

• Nose: Aromas of ripe blackberry, black cherry, and crème de cassis, accented by hints of graphite, violets, baking spices, and warm earth.

• Palate: Full-bodied and layered, with opulent flavors of blueberry pie, dark chocolate, and blackcurrant, balanced by vibrant acidity. Fine-grained tannins provide structure, leading to a long, seamless finish with subtle notes of smoked herbs and cedar.

Critical Acclaim

• Jeb Dunnuck: 100 points – The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another perfect wine, although readers will need to have patience, as it’s still a baby. Deep purple-hued with a perfumed, vibrant bouquet of blue fruits, graphite, spring flowers, and lead pencil, it’s full-bodied, sensationally concentrated, has perfectly integrated acidity, tannin, and alcohol, not a hard edge to be found, and an incredible finish. This monumental Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is 7-8 years away from maturity and will have 40-50 years of overall longevity.

• Wine Advocate: 98+ points – 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.

• James Suckling: 99 points – 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.

Serving and Cellaring

The 2018 Hillside Select is best served at 60–65°F (16–18°C). Decanting for at least an hour before serving allows the wine to fully open and express its aromatic complexity. While it is approachable now, this wine will evolve beautifully over the next several decades, with an optimal drinking window from 2025 to 2055.

Conclusion

The 2018 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon is a true masterpiece of Napa Valley winemaking. With its remarkable depth, luxurious texture, and outstanding aging potential, it embodies the pinnacle of Cabernet Sauvignon excellence.