2014 Shafer Merlot Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
Shafer also makes one of the better Merlots. The 2014 Merlot includes 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and is a beauty. Mocha and chocolaty notes intermixed with red cherry, plum and blacker fruits jump from the glass of this perfumed and fragrant style of Merlot. It is medium to full-bodied, exceptionally pure and rich and should drink beautifully over the next 10-12 years of life.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Dark red cherry, plum, spice, menthol, licorice and gravel are beautifully delineated in Shafer's 2014 Merlot. This is a somewhat brisk, linear style, but it works nicely. Savory overtones add aromatic intensity and lift throughout. There is plenty to like, but readers should expect a slightly more reserved Merlot than is the norm here.
Expressive floral and spice notes open up first in the 2014 Merlot. Fresh, nuanced and energetic in the style of the year, the 2014 is a highly representative wine for the vintage. The 2014 is not quite as generous as the 2013, but it offers a touch more vibrancy today, not to mention considerable potential.