Shafer Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot 2014
Ratings on Delectable
"Odedi" 
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back! This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Soft and elegant. Smooth and fruit forward. Dry and very fruity on the palate with medium acidity. Showing black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates and peppercorn. Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries. This 2014 vintage is drinking wonderfully now, and this wine is a good example of it. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too. I had this vintage 6 years ago, but it was not ready at all. Was unbalanced and a little austere. Right now, it is a wonderful wine that's at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. Easy drinking, spicy and entertaining. Robert Parker 92 points. Wine Enthusiasts 93 points. Good by itself or with food. I paired it Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. A blend of 78% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Malbec. Aged for 20 months in mostly new French oak barrels. 15.3% alcohol by volume. 93 points. $60.
It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back! This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Soft and elegant. Smooth and fruit forward. Dry and very fruity on the palate with medium acidity. Showing black plums, black currants, coffee, oak, cloves, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, earth, dark coffee, chocolates and peppercorn. Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries. This 2014 vintage is drinking wonderfully now, and this wine is a good example of it. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too. I had this vintage 6 years ago, but it was not ready at all. Was unbalanced and a little austere. Right now, it is a wonderful wine that's at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years. Easy drinking, spicy and entertaining. Robert Parker 92 points. Wine Enthusiasts 93 points. Good by itself or with food. I paired it Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. A blend of 78% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Malbec. Aged for 20 months in mostly new French oak barrels. 15.3% alcohol by volume. 93 points. $60.
9.3
Weijie Shi (Jay)
Rich and concentrated. Well integrated oak. Coffee, mocha, dark chocolate, red cherry and plum. Intensive mouthfeel. Chewy tannins
Rich and concentrated. Well integrated oak. Coffee, mocha, dark chocolate, red cherry and plum. Intensive mouthfeel. Chewy tannins
9.1Saul Gropman
Owner/Operator Cafe La Haye
Classic cherry & cocoa!
Classic cherry & cocoa!
9.0
Winery Explorers
This will shine years from now...don't make the mistake and open it like we did. Way too young right now.
This will shine years from now...don't make the mistake and open it like we did. Way too young right now.
9.0
Ryan Mullins
More savory than I remember this wine. Super wide bandwidth of flavor. Only 78% Merlot with a balance of Malbec and Cabernet
More savory than I remember this wine. Super wide bandwidth of flavor. Only 78% Merlot with a balance of Malbec and Cabernet
"Odedi"
Deep purple in color with a ruby rim. Strong and fruity on the nose with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, raspberries, leather, earth, spices, peppercorn, smoke, chocolates, mocha and black tea. Full bodied and harsh, with high acidity and long legs. Fruity and dry on the palate, and sour on the mid palate, with plums, raspberries, strawberries, red currants, oak, smoke, vanilla, licorice, earth, mint, peppercorn, spices and dark chocolates. Long tangy finish with green tannins and sour raspberries. This Napa Merlot is way too young. Needs 3 to 5 years in the bottle to mature. Bold and extracted, but still unbalanced. Shows nice complexity, but too tart right now, even after 90 minutes of airtime. Still austere, but time will make it all better. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it anyway. I paired it with a cheese plate and dry fruits. 15.3% alcohol by volume .
Deep purple in color with a ruby rim. Strong and fruity on the nose with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, raspberries, leather, earth, spices, peppercorn, smoke, chocolates, mocha and black tea. Full bodied and harsh, with high acidity and long legs. Fruity and dry on the palate, and sour on the mid palate, with plums, raspberries, strawberries, red currants, oak, smoke, vanilla, licorice, earth, mint, peppercorn, spices and dark chocolates. Long tangy finish with green tannins and sour raspberries. This Napa Merlot is way too young. Needs 3 to 5 years in the bottle to mature. Bold and extracted, but still unbalanced. Shows nice complexity, but too tart right now, even after 90 minutes of airtime. Still austere, but time will make it all better. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it anyway. I paired it with a cheese plate and dry fruits. 15.3% alcohol by volume .
8.7Charlie Tapp
Started rough. Burnt bandaid and diaper. Decanting helped a lot. Day 2 it’s settled into dark fruit, chocolate, red licorice and manure.
Started rough. Burnt bandaid and diaper. Decanting helped a lot. Day 2 it’s settled into dark fruit, chocolate, red licorice and manure.
8.6
Marta Bean
Made red wine reduction out of it lol
Made red wine reduction out of it lol
8.7
K L
Excellent. Great flavors. Opened nicely. Was a little effervescent on opening and a bit tanic. Could have aged more. Would definitely get again
Excellent. Great flavors. Opened nicely. Was a little effervescent on opening and a bit tanic. Could have aged more. Would definitely get again
9.4
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