Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is a benchmark Napa Valley wine that captures both the profound richness and vibrant elegance of the ideal 2016 vintage. Produced exclusively from the rugged, terraced vineyards of Shafer’s Stags Leap District estate, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a mesmerizing array of aromas—ripe blackberry, cassis, black currant, wet stone, and hints of chocolate, briar fruit, and allspice. The palate unfolds with luxurious layers of dark fruit balanced by bursts of red plum, raspberry, black pepper, lavender, and anise. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity offer both immediate drinkability and the promise of graceful aging for decades. The Grape Composition is pure Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from hillside blocks where rocky volcanic soils and dramatic exposures yield tiny, intensely flavored berries. Shafer Vineyards, founded in 1972 by John Shafer, has become an icon of Napa Valley Cabernet, with Hillside Select first released in 1983. Under the guidance of Doug Shafer and long-time winemaker Elias Fernandez, the winery has earned consistent acclaim for crafting expressive, age-worthy wines. Accolades for the 2016 vintage include multiple 100-point scores from leading critics such as Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck, cementing its reputation as one of Napa’s finest single-vineyard Cabernets. Expect a long, resonant finish that lingers on both the palate and memory. Ideal for cellaring, it will continue evolving beautifully through 2040 and beyond.
