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Rated 99/100 by James Suckling (top 3% of their reviews).
WNLQ9 vintage signal, averaged from Wine Enthusiast Wine Vintage Chart 2026 Edition's 4 closely-agreeing California 2018 ratings (Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon; Sonoma Pinot Noir; Central Coast Pinot Noir; Paso Robles Reds).
A vintage grade rates the growing season in this wine’s region — not this specific bottle. Source.
Researched by our team from producer and independent sources — not supplied by the seller.
A powerful, single-estate Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from steep volcanic-soil vineyard blocks, known for dark color, concentrated fruit and a track record as one of Napa's benchmark cult Cabernets.
Hillside Select is Shafer Vineyards' flagship wine, made from 100% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon farmed across a set of small vineyard blocks — including Sunspot, John's Upper Seven, Venado Ilegal and Firebreak — planted within a rocky, volcanic-soil amphitheater that surrounds the winery in the Stags Leap District.
The site's thin soils and limited moisture naturally restrict yields and berry size, concentrating flavor and color in the fruit. The wine traces its lineage to Shafer's first Cabernet Sauvignon vintage in 1978; by 1983 the winery recognized the hillside fruit's distinct quality and began bottling it separately as Hillside Select.
Winemaking at Shafer favors ripe, layered fruit with substantial oak-aging and enough structure to reward cellaring, and the label has built a reputation over four decades as one of the Napa Valley's most sought-after single-estate Cabernets, consistently drawing high critical scores.
Shafer Vineyards was founded in 1972 by John Shafer, a former Chicago publishing executive who, at age 48, relocated to Napa Valley and purchased roughly 209 acres of land in the Stags Leap District. He moved into full-scale winemaking by 1978, releasing his first Cabernet Sauvignon that vintage.
His son Doug Shafer joined the winery in 1983, eventually becoming winemaker and then president from 1994, with Elias Fernandez — who joined in 1984 and became winemaker in 1994 — steering winemaking through much of the estate's rise to prominence (Fernandez was named Food & Wine's Winemaker of the Year in 2002).
The winery remained family-owned for roughly five decades until early 2022, when it was sold to Shinsegae Property, a Korean luxury-goods firm, in a deal reported at $250 million covering the winery and its 225 acres of vines; Doug Shafer and Elias Fernandez both stayed on afterward, though Doug has since retired.
Herb-crusted rack of lamb
The wine's ripe, concentrated fruit and firm tannin structure stand up to the richness of lamb, while herb crust echoes any secondary herbal notes in the wine.
Aged Gouda or clothbound cheddar
Firm, aged cheeses with some crystalline texture and umami depth match the wine's density without competing against its tannin, a classic pairing for structured Napa Cabernet.
Grilled beef skewers with light garlic-pepper marinade (เนื้อย่างสไตล์เนย)
A mild, non-chili grilled preparation lets the char and beef fat interact with the wine's tannin the way a Western steak pairing would, without the capsaicin clash a spicier Thai dish would create against such a tannic wine.
Product information compiled from producer, importer and reference sources.
Napa Valley Cabernet of power and structure: blackcurrant and cedar with firm tannins and aging potential.
Shafer's Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a full-bodied expression of Napa Valley terroir, built on a foundation of ripe blackcurrant and dark plum fruit. Cedar and oak frame the primary character, while black pepper and vanilla add textural complexity.
The wine's high tannin structure and medium-high acidity promise graceful evolution over the next 15–20 years, with tertiary notes of tobacco and leather emerging as it matures. This is a serious, age-worthy Cabernet suited to the finest red-meat cuisine and cellar investment.
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