93 points,

Connoisseurs' Guide, Connoisseur's Guide, September 2012

It seems that Shafer can be counted on year in and year out for some of the richer, well-filled Merlots to be had, and this latest, while not wanting for ripeness, stands again with the best of the vintage. It leads with very deep aromas of black cherries, root beer and sweet cream, and its very like-minded flavors are as concentrated as they are juicy. Some might quibble about a touch of eleventh-hour heat, but we find it a small price to pay for this kind of richness and real fruity depth.

90 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2011

The 2009 Merlot is an attractive, fleshy wine graced with expressive dark red fruit, flowers, sweet spices and licorice. The wine reveals gorgeous radiance and a supple, inviting personality ideally suited to drinking over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. -Antonio Galloni

90 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, May 2012

Medium red. Aromas of redcurrant, tobacco leaf, fresh herbs and chocolatey oak. Not a particularly fat or sweet style of merlot but sappy and lively, with oak spices perking up the intense currant and herb flavors. Not quite as creamy as the other two current red releases from this winery but very nicely balanced and persistent, finishing with fine-grained tannins and late notes of licorice and herbs.

90 points,

Wine Enthusiast, July 2012

Shafer's Merlot is very vintage driven, and this 2009 shows exceptionally ripe, sweet cherry and blueberry-pie flavors, enriched by 75% new French oak that brings toasty, spicy vanilla notes. It's flashy, opulent and delicious, but a bit forward and warm. Drink now. - S.H.

92 points,

Wine Spectator, July 2012

Supple, elegant and beautifully focused, with aromas of red currant and toasty vanilla that lead to ripe but sleek and layered flavors of black cherry, cinnamon and black tea. Tannins sneak in on the finish. Drink now through 2017. -TF

About Winery

Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer left a 23-year career in the publishing industry and, with his family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate in Napa Valley's Stags Leap District, the Shafer family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards, which dated to the 1920s, and terracing the steep and rocky hillsides, eventually expanding vineyard acreage to its current 50 acres.Evolving from grape growers to vintners, the Shafers crushed their first Cabernet grapes in 1978 and began construction on their winery a year later.

The first Shafer Cabernet became a benchmark, winning the acclaimed San Francisco Vintners Club taste-off upon release and, over a decade later taking first place in an international blind tasting held in Germany, where it outranked such wines as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour and Chateau Palmer.

Doug Shafer became winemaker in 1983 after graduating from the University of California at Davis with a degree in enology and viticulture. A year later Elias Fernandez joined the winery as assistant winemaker. Together Doug and Elias have worked closely to forge the Shafer style of quality, consistency and elegance.

Shipping Details

This is a pre-arrival item. You will be contacted once this product has arrived at our warehouse to arrange delivery.

Need it faster? Call us now at (888) 859-4637 for special arrangements.

Free storage available. We offer free 6 months storage for any wine purchased at JJ Buckley. We highly recommend storing your wines during the summer months to avoid heat damage during shipment.

For a shipping quote, add this product to your shopping cart. From there you will be able to enter a zipcode and get a detailed quote. For full details on our shipping policies, click here.