Shafer Vineyards

Napa Valley Merlot

9.181 ratings
9.18 pro ratings
Napa Valley, California, USA
Merlot
Beef, Venison, Salami & Prosciutto, Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, Exotic Spices, Lamb, White Rice, Baking Spices, Herbs, Pasta, Chicken, Mushrooms, Pungent Cheese, Turkey, Tomato-Based, Soft Cheese, Pork, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Duck, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
"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.

Jan 26th, 2023
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

Dec 18th, 2017
Saul Gropman

Owner/Operator Cafe La Haye

9.0

Classic cherry & cocoa!

Classic cherry & cocoa!

Sep 29th, 2017
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.

1 person found it helpfulNov 15th, 2016
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

1 person found it helpfulAug 11th, 2016
"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 .

Mar 9th, 2017
Charlie 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.

Dec 2nd, 2021
Marta Bean

Made red wine reduction out of it lol

Made red wine reduction out of it lol

Apr 23rd, 2020
K L
9.4

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

Sep 14th, 2019
Chris England

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 21 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Three days to go so just had Mrs Claus do my sack, back & crack - gotta be beech ready for some regions I deliver 😉”

📝 I say My favourite 🇺🇸 Merlot that’s not a Merlot 🤣 not as pungent & in your face as the 2012/13 and a bit easier going 👍 You can’t go wrong with this wine 😍 especially with 🥩 I’d give this 3-5 years but good now to 😀

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Bruno Paillard Premier Cuvee NV

📍 Shafer Merlot 2014

🏵 92-93 points

🍇 78% Merlot, 14% Malbec & 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷 Opaque black ruby

👃 Dark damson plum, black cherry & blackcurrant w/ raspberry, cloves, cocoa, spice, liquorice, mint & gravel w/ a touch of smokey oak lingering

👄 Med+ super smooth silky spiced blackcurrant, dark plum, dark cherry, blueberry & cocoa cream w/ a sweet raspberry undertone w/ a touch of green stalk & coffee kick

🎯 Long ripe black fruit finish covered with dark chocolate, raspberry & blueberry sprinkles

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 21 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Three days to go so just had Mrs Claus do my sack, back & crack - gotta be beech ready for some regions I deliver 😉”

📝 I say My favourite 🇺🇸 Merlot that’s not a Merlot 🤣 not as pungent & in your face as the 2012/13 and a bit easier going 👍 You can’t go wrong with this wine 😍 especially with 🥩 I’d give this 3-5 years but good now to 😀

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Bruno Paillard Premier Cuvee NV

📍 Shafer Merlot 2014

🏵 92-93 points

🍇 78% Merlot, 14% Malbec & 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷 Opaque black ruby

👃 Dark damson plum, black cherry & blackcurrant w/ raspberry, cloves, cocoa, spice, liquorice, mint & gravel w/ a touch of smokey oak lingering

👄 Med+ super smooth silky spiced blackcurrant, dark plum, dark cherry, blueberry & cocoa cream w/ a sweet raspberry undertone w/ a touch of green stalk & coffee kick

🎯 Long ripe black fruit finish covered with dark chocolate, raspberry & blueberry sprinkles

Dec 21st, 2018