92 points Wine Spectator: "Sleek and supple, this is exactly the style of Merlot that made the wine so popular. Floral red currant and cinnamon spice aromas lead to rich, ripe flavors of black cherry and toasty oak, with a hint of earth. (11/30/14)"
91 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2012 Merlot jumps from the glass with brilliant red cherries, plums, flowers, spices and mint. With time in the glass the flavors blossom beautifully as the wine gains texture and resonance. Merlot still suffers from a less than stellar reputation in some circles, which is unfortunate. Few do it better than Shafer when it comes to capturing the fruit-driven exuberance of Merlot. Drink this juicy, resonant red over the next few years. Drink: 2015-2022. (Dec 2014)"
90 points Robert Parker: "The 2012 Merlot, which comes in at 15.5% natural alcohol, is a beauty. It’s 91% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest a touch of Malbec. The wine reveals notes of black cherries, tobacco leaf, mocha and darker-berried fruit with a hint of white chocolate. It’s ripe, medium to full-bodied, but fresh, elegant and well-delineated. This beauty should drink well for a decade or more. (Oct 2014)"
90 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "A Cab lover’s Merlot, this wine is massively constructed, a behemoth of tobacco-laced blue fruit and smoke, nearing pie-like proportion. With time and/or a decant, it’ll reveal pretty violet on the nose, and take on a sultry juiciness to overcome its weight. (Jun 2015)"
Producer notes: "87% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec. This was a classic Napa Valley vintage filled with warm, sunny days and perfect, chilly nights from spring through early autumn. The consistency of heat and coolness created a model growing season in which we harvested fruit at ideal ripeness brimming with rich color and flavor. Barrel aged 20 months in French oak (75% new). Alcohol 15.1%."
91 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2012 Merlot jumps from the glass with brilliant red cherries, plums, flowers, spices and mint. With time in the glass the flavors blossom beautifully as the wine gains texture and resonance. Merlot still suffers from a less than stellar reputation in some circles, which is unfortunate. Few do it better than Shafer when it comes to capturing the fruit-driven exuberance of Merlot. Drink this juicy, resonant red over the next few years. Drink: 2015-2022. (Dec 2014)"
90 points Robert Parker: "The 2012 Merlot, which comes in at 15.5% natural alcohol, is a beauty. It’s 91% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest a touch of Malbec. The wine reveals notes of black cherries, tobacco leaf, mocha and darker-berried fruit with a hint of white chocolate. It’s ripe, medium to full-bodied, but fresh, elegant and well-delineated. This beauty should drink well for a decade or more. (Oct 2014)"
90 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "A Cab lover’s Merlot, this wine is massively constructed, a behemoth of tobacco-laced blue fruit and smoke, nearing pie-like proportion. With time and/or a decant, it’ll reveal pretty violet on the nose, and take on a sultry juiciness to overcome its weight. (Jun 2015)"
Producer notes: "87% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec. This was a classic Napa Valley vintage filled with warm, sunny days and perfect, chilly nights from spring through early autumn. The consistency of heat and coolness created a model growing season in which we harvested fruit at ideal ripeness brimming with rich color and flavor. Barrel aged 20 months in French oak (75% new). Alcohol 15.1%."
| Product SKU | 321370 |
| Producer | Shafer |
| Country | United States |
| Varietal | Merlot |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Blend | 87% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec |
| Ships To |
