A treat. Dark in color, slightly cloudy. A powerful nose with dark, very mouton fruit. Incredibly aromatic, blackcurrant, mint,graphite, dried herbs, eucalyptus. The palate is extraordinary. So dense and powerful for a wine of almost 70 years. Dark fruit with a savory undertow- leather, thyme, sour cherry, dark chocolate. Really precise flavors and long. After an hour or two in glass there’s notes of coconut and soft wood. Extraordinary. Clearly there’s a lot of age on this but the sheer quality makes for a really dynamic wine. An exceptional bottle, and a teal treat. — 7 years ago
A Birthday Delicacy — 10 years ago
Smooth and silky. Great Cab. Chocolate and vanilla. Not overly complex or oaky. — 10 years ago
The 1995 Shafer Hillside Select is still youthful, and would benefit from further another 10-20 years of cellaring. Saturating aromas of burnt brown sugar, toffee, cherry liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, graphite and dark chocolate round out the nose. In the mouth, its big and brawny, endowed with firm, ripe tannins, and vibrant acidity—that narrowly prevents a total plunge into velvety darkness. The intensity and concentration of fruit is over the top. A powerhouse from start to finish. 14.1% ABV — 10 years ago
Black berries, plum, light, chocolate, spicy finish. — 12 years ago
The Clark & Telephone Vineyard PN gave me a long lasting impression, and this Las Alturas is very similar in style in its richness and intensity.
Ripe plum, blackberry jam, eucalyptus, fig, black tea, and Chinese medicinal herbs bursting on the nose. Palate has more texture and a more elegant feel with dark chocolate and spice. Firm and a bit dusty tannins. This tastes more like a blend of Zinfandel and Cab. Nice! But again this is not the type of PN I like. — 7 years ago
Big Cab! Wonderful spice and some chocolate mix. — 9 years ago
Violet color with exuberant dark fruit, white pepper, roasted meat, and hints of olive tapenade and eucalyptus aromas. On the palate, it's full bodied and ripe with very good acidity, soft well integrated tannins, and luscious blackberry, black cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate, and spice flavors. Long finish. — 10 years ago
This is my go to red blend, that's very affordable! It's rich, velvety, with a chocolate undertone. A tad sweet, but very delicious! — 11 years ago
Big and chewy. If you appreciate a full load of tannins this is your choice. The fruit is not the main feature. Lots of chocolate and some sweeter vanilla notes. — 11 years ago
2015 bottling. I don’t really drink stuff like this much anymore but this was very well made and delicious. — 7 years ago
After 2hrs chocolate, little must, quite acidic and tannic. Good but don't open the rest for 1-2. — 9 years ago
Sweet and a good mouth feel. You can taste the berries and chocolate. — 9 years ago
Fantastic! Gamble on this wine, but solid. Similar to a California zin. Smooth mouthfeel, smokey, chocolate and dark fruit. Low tannin. Delicious! Definitely buying again. — 10 years ago
Like drinking chocolate — 10 years ago
Variety of aromas that include black fruits, olive, and tobacco. In the mouth this Chilean Cab is ripe, tannic, and fun. Flavors include raspberry, herbs from the kitchen, chocolate, and spiced. The finish is firm and long. This wine is enormously endowed. — 10 years ago
Earth and chocolate. Smooth well balanced Cab. WBA — 11 years ago
Dan Higginson
Blackberry, black cherry, spice, chocolate, coffee — 7 years ago