Shafer 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

The Shafer 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is a near-perfect expression of Napa Valley excellence—an icon that defines what world-class Cabernet Sauvignon can be.

Shafer’s 2021 Hillside Select is a towering achievement: profoundly rich, impeccably structured, and built for both immediate awe and decades of cellar glory. It balances power with poise, delivering a symphony of dark fruit, luxurious oak, and savory depth. This is Napa Cabernet at its most majestic—deeply expressive, technically flawless, and emotionally moving.

🍇 Vineyard & Winemaking

• Sourced exclusively from Shafer’s rugged hillside estate vineyard in Stags Leap District, where thin soils and sunny exposure yield tiny, intensely flavored berries.

• Aged 32 months in 100% new French oak barrels, the wine is treated with utmost care—fermented in small lots, blended with precision, and bottled without compromise.

👃 Aromatics

The nose is captivating and multi-layered, unfolding with blackberry compote, crème de cassis, dark chocolate, graphite, and toasted vanilla. Behind the richness are notes of violets, black olive tapenade, baking spice, and crushed rock, hinting at the wine’s complexity and longevity.

👅 Palate

Velvety yet structured, the palate delivers an opulent rush of ripe black cherry, espresso, anise, and dark plum, wrapped in perfectly integrated oak. Tannins are broad and sculpted, giving it a regal texture that glides across the tongue. It’s both muscular and elegant, with soaring intensity and exquisite finesse.

🔁 Finish

The finish is epic—long, resonant, and layered with mineral, fruit, and savory spice notes that echo for over a minute. Every element feels in balance, with nothing overplayed.

🌟 Why It's Nearly Perfect

• Expression of Place: It captures the unique terroir of Stags Leap with tension, power, and grace.

• Craftsmanship: From vineyard to bottle, every detail is masterfully executed.

• Aging Potential: Will evolve beautifully for 25+ years, gaining nuance and silkiness.

• Critical Acclaim: Consistently among the most revered Cabernets from California—2021 is no exception. See below!

If you're seeking a wine that marries Napa Valley opulence with Bordeaux-like precision, Shafer’s Hillside Select 2021 is as close to perfection as it gets. Whether cellared or savored today, it’s a transcendent experience.

100 Points The Wine Independent: "The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select was tasted as a barrel sample. Deep garnet-purple in color it charges out with powerful notes of creme de cassis plum preserves and juicy blueberries giving way to an undercurrent of tar candied violets and star anise. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and impactful delivering a firm grainy texture and well-knit freshness to support the generous black and blue fruits finishing long with loads of mineral and exotic spices sparks. This is impressive! Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown Review date: 2023-11-24."

99 Points Robert Parker: "All Cabernet Sauvignon from specific hillside blocks on the estate, Shafer's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select spent 28 months in 100% new French oak. It's a big, ripe wine, weighing in at 15.5% alcohol, but it remains harmonious from front to back. Deep, intense aromas of black cherries and cassis are accented by dried spices on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich and textural, showing tremendous intensity and length on the finish. Based on how previous examples have aged, this vintage should drink well through 2050."

99 Points Jeb Dunnuck:  "As always, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that will spend 28 months in new barrels. Its deep purple hue gives way to a behemoth of a wine that has incredible cassis, black raspberry, and even blue fruits to go with loads of camphor, minty herbs, graphite, and darker chocolate. It's full-bodied, concentrated, yet pure, flawlessly balanced, and has a great finish."

99 Points VInous: "The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine. Floral and vibrant, the 2021 sizzles with tension and a level of delineation I don't remember seeing in the past. Like all the 2021s here, the Hillside Select possesses notable purity of fruit and exceptional balance. The tannins need to soften a touch, but time should take care of that. I don't see the opulence or inner sweetness of most years, but that is not a negative at all."