Shafer Napa Valley Merlot 2005

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BN#208417

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Shafer

This Merlot comes with big scoops of red and black fruit aromas and flavors. I get fresh plums, sweet black cherries, currants, red licorice, a little pepper, and pleasing doses of fragrant earth, smoke, and minerality.

Wine Enthusiast

Shafer’s Cabernet is so dominant, it’s sometimes forgotten how good their Merlot can be. The wines are dependably dry, rich and balanced, as the excellent ’05 demonstrates. It’s soft and drinkable now, but rich and sweet in tannins that frame cherry, currant, cola, licorice and vanilla flavors. Will reward cellaring through 2011.

Wine Advocate

The 2005 Merlot, which includes 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, possesses crisp acidity as well as an elegant bouquet of berry fruit, menthol, sweet cherries, and spice. The tremendous aromatics are followed by abundant fruit. The 2005 should drink well for a decade.