Wow, incredible, and still holding up after all these years. Upon opening, basically no fruit, all secondary characteristics, especially on the nose. As it opened up, some dark cherry appeared and eventually the nose and palate came together. A sensory journey 48 Years in the making and a pleasure to partake. — 9 years ago
No bubbles left, some seepage on the cork, but funnily enough it was still quite special, confit ginger, mandarin marmalade mixed with vanilla beans, custard, creme brûlée, just the caramel on the finish showed it wasn't stored correctly, all things considered quite extraordinary. — 9 years ago
Still has wonderful fruit after all@these years. — 11 years ago
Gamay all day, every day! With some aging on it. Good to drink, still good to keep. — 12 years ago
Decanted and really opened up in little more than half an hour. 54 years and still has vitality. There’s still some fruit but it is mixed with subtle acidity and soft tannins. A delight to drink and share with friends. Our friend was given the wine and wanted to share it. We all were quite happy.👍🍷🍷 — 5 years ago
A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 7 years ago
Facemelting. That is all. — 8 years ago
An off vintage that shouldn't have improved! @ £47 this 07 is drinking lovely right now w/ all tannins soft & integrated 👍
🍇 70% Cab S, 27% Mer & 3% Cab F
🍷 Opaque ruby
👃 Mineral & pencil lead driven earthy spiced blackcurrant & dark plum w/ leather, wet leaves, mint & smokey cedar/oak
👄 Med+ body of creamy smooth blackcurrant & dark plum w/ mocha & minerals, all well integrated now
🎯 Med+ ripe dark fruit, mocha & mineral coating — 9 years ago
Amazing wish I could drink this wine all the time — 10 years ago
2002 SHAFER Cabernet Sauvignon
"Hillside Select"
Napa Valley, California
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Silky smooth.
Soft, lush tannins.
Dark, Black Fruit.
Blackberry and Blueberry Flavors.
All Elements in harmony.
Great Balance.
Extra long finish.
"Wine of the Night".
Still has another 5 - 10 years of life ahead. — 11 years ago

One of my Fav's of ALL time — 11 years ago
Not at all shitty. — 12 years ago
2002 vintage. Nice fill, good cork. Decanted with a respectable amount of powdery sed. Smelled great during decanting. Tasted 1.5 hours after opening/decanting. Expected light body with delicate tendrils. Medium body with a light palate footprint. Holy shazzbaat. This was absolutely firing. Like top of the pops, straight up to number one. Exceptional knitting and in a perfect spot now. Go all the way back to the inaugural 1982 vintage with this winery’s cabernet…thought my all-time fave was the 1991 altho the 1986 and 1987 were special. The 2020, picked early, thus avoiding the fires, is phenomenal as well. This was on another level and have had approx 150 bottles of Spottswoode Cab in the last three + decades. It was probably the best out of all of them. Difficult to imagine Napa Cab better than this. Power and finesse on display. Not improving but can hold this intensity for another 4-5 years. 12.24.24. — 2 years ago
All time favorite — 9 years ago
Surprisingly dark after all these years. Currant, mint & grandpa's baseball glove. Fantastic! — 9 years ago
Everything you'd expect and more. All the rich dark fruit, chocolate and lush purple flowers, but none of the sticky over-ripe flavors. So balanced. — 10 years ago
Cherries, blackberries, macerated raspberries and slight smoke, with present tannins, yet ultra smooth. Wonderful finish. Very mild, but boasts a red and black rush of berries, all while completely mellow. Masterful. — 10 years ago
This is indeed quite a lovely old school rioja, the nose awash with savoury leafy tones, tobacco and warm earth, dried plums and unfortunately the coconut dill of american wood....very refined palate, mid-sized, fluent and sweet n sour throughout, delicious peat moss and mud tones, plenty of dried fruit, however a creaminess to the texture and a splash of cedar on the finish detracts from its otherwise unmistakable beauty. I just can't help but feel this would be so much better without the american oak. I can only wait for the day all top riojan wines cast aside the shadow of their past, and believe wholesomely in the grandeur of their unique terroir. — 11 years ago
With all its age this is such a complete wine. Wow. — 11 years ago
Z-Best!!! My personal fav of all time!!!! — 12 years ago
GaryWEdwards
A wonderful expression of Merlot primarily that ticks all the boxes- cigar, dark berry and earthy roots. Brilliant — 9 months ago