Interestingly, the first thing that came to my mind in smelling the 1995 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select was a relatively young vintage of Château Latour. Another fabulous effort, with notes of blackcurrants, graphite, a touch of vanilla, sweet tannin and a full-bodied, multidimensional mouthfeel, this vintage offers stunning aromatics of black fruits, earth, charcoal and lead pencil shavings. In addition, there is an intense, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a youthful vibrancy and vigor that are sensational. This is an amazingly young wine that’s coming up on 20 years of age and another great example of just how these best terroirs of Napa can produce incredibly long-lived Cabernet Sauvignons. It should last at least another two decades as well.

The 1995 Hillside Select has settled into its plateau of maturity, and now is a good time to approach it. Notes of cassis, black raspberry and pencil shavings are followed by a full-bodied, rich but savoury palate with supple tannins and nicely balanced acidity.

Deep ruby. Aromatic, nuanced, higher-pitched aromas of blackcurrant, cassis and licorice. Youthful black fruit flavors given shape and delineation by lively acids. Firm, fresh and very long. At once big and subtle. In comparison with the '96, this wine substantial, dusty tannins reach more of the mouth. Not as extravagantly dense and ripe as the '94, but compelling cabernet nevertheless, and likely to be long-lived.