Shafer Hillside Dinner With Friends

WINE TALK
1

Last night we had a few friends over to celebrate a combination of high school graduation for our children and some birthdays. Grilled some prime ribeyes and filet mignons, with a bit of Hillside.

2002, '04 and '05 were uncorked but not decanted about 6-7 hours before serving
2006-09 were double decanted about 7-8 hours before serving

Tasting notes by recollection

2002 - Plum, black cherry and a hint of spice, soft fruit (93)
2004 - Wine of the night. Dark fruit, long finish, a very powerful wine. (97)
2005 - A lot of spice, softened near the end of the bottle (94)
2006 - Jammy and a short finish. My biggest disappointment because I love '06. (91)
2007 - Also some spice, but a longer finish (96)
2008 - Softer dark fruit, smooth but still immature (92)
2009 - A bit of the same, but more undeveloped (91)

All in all, a very memorable evening.

2

Thanks for the notes; sounds like the 2004 is the most open/enjoyable of the vintages you drank.

Bruce

3

Michael,

What a great lineup of Shafer HS. I have had the 2003, 2004, and 2005. The 2004 was incredible and tasted much better than the other 2. I totally agree with your TN’s.

4

I’m just the opposite. I’ve had my two bottles of the 04, and I thought they were overly chocolately, creamy and soft, lacking the structure needed to be a great cab. But I had my lone bottle of 2006 last Saturday night, and it was much better, if not necessarily a great HSS.

I didn’t have them side by side or blind, though, and of course everyone’s tastes are different.

Thanks for sharing the tasting with us.