Shafer Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley 2010

Date of Tasting: 21 March 2015

Wine Type: Red

Grape Varieties: 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec

Alcohol: 15.3%

Origin: California, USA

Appellation: Napa Valley

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR50

Web: http://www.shafervineyards.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 93/100
Professional Rating: WA - 93/100, WE - 91/100, WS - 90/100, CT - 91/100

Appearance: Dense purplish red

Aroma: Sweet black fruits and cherry. Mild floral and spices floor. 

Palate: On the texture, it is almost full, kind of big and jammy but beautifully soft. Exhibit licorice, chocolate, blackberry, and integrated vanilla, earthiness and spice touches. 

It is a merlot base blend that is showing tremendously now. I had it along with rib eye steak and it did compliment each other well. Sensational mouth feel and aroma, it has. Though, there are some cabernet sauvignon and malbec in the blend but they do not seem to overwhelm the characters of merlot. But they more like enhancing structure of this wine. Throughout the course of this bottle, it kept developing along. Perhaps gentle decanting would do for those who need immediate consumption. Personally, I may wait until the end of 2016 before accessing another bottle to see how it develops.

Score Explanation

95+ = classic and extraordinary

90+ = outstanding in its class

85+ = recommended wine with some degree of enjoyment

80+ = drinkable occasionally

WA = Wine Advocate
AG = Antonio Galloni
WS = Wine Spectator
WE = Wine Enthusiast
JR = Jancis Robinson
DC = Decanter
JS = James Suckling
BH = Burghound
FS = Falstaff Magazine
ST = Stephen Tanzer
CT = Cellar Tracker Average Score