2009 Shafer Vineyards Merlot

Merlot - 750ML
Reg: $59.94
$54.94
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REVIEWS

CG 93 WS 92 WA 90 WE 90
CG 93

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...
WS 92

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...
WA 90

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...
WE 90

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...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Merlot
Country USA
Region California
Sub-region North Coast
Appellation Napa
Vintage 2009
Size 750ML

Shafer Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery located in the Stags Leap District of the Napa Valley. It was founded in 1972 by John Shafer who left a 23-year career in the publishing industry to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate, the family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards which dated back to the 1920s.

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.

New vineyards have been added over the years, with acreage acquired in the Oak Knoll, Stags Leap and Carneros districts, bringing the total Shafer vineyard acreage to over 200 acres. Winery facilities have been expanded and extensive caves carved into the hillside for aging wine.

In 1994, Elias was appointed winemaker, and Doug took over the reins as president when John became chairman of the board.