Reviews
-Wine Enthusiast -
-James Suckling -
-Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
-Wine Spectator -
Technical Details
- 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot
- Elias Fernandez
- US
- California
- North Coast
- Napa Valley
- Estate vineyards in Stags Leap District, Yountville, and a vineyard in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains just south of Stags Leap District
- Organic Practices
- 100% neutral French oak barrels
- 18 months
- 15.3%
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 Napa Valley 2022
Organic Practices
Multi-Bottle Discount
5% OFF RETAIL!
Add 3+ bottles to the cart and receive an additional savings!
Named after the first tractor ever used in the Shafer Vineyards fields, this workhorse of a Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as enchanting as its history, and ever worthy of its 95-point score.
Doug Shafer, son of his visionary father John (who took Nathan Fay’s advice in 1978 and planted Cabernet in the Stag's Leap District), has led Shafer to new heights, being dubbed one of the "greatest wineries in the world" by the most important wine critic in the world, Robert Parker. We guarantee you’ll agree upon tasting this new release; they are producing the best wines in their storied history.
“Year in year out, this is one of the superstar wineries, not only in Napa Valley and all of California, but in the entire world.” – Robert Parker, Jr.
The TD-9 came about after John Shafer hung up his corporate hat in Chicago in 1973, bought some property in Napa, and taught himself how to raise grapevines with his first inherited tractor: a 1950s-era TD-9 International Harvester. A champion, a workhorse, a symbol of perseverance and adventuresome spirit – the tractor and the wine share many of the same qualities. John’s zealous change of career, industry, and lifestyle at nearly 50 years old has led to some pretty incredible outcomes, this wine being just one of many.
The 2022 is a head-turner, packed with brooding blue and purple fruits, creme de cassis, rich holiday spices, vanilla paste, cocoa powder, black pepper, and an incredibly velvety and polished texture. A classic blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot from estate vineyards just south of Stags Leap, along with a smattering of top Napa sites, winemaker Elias Fernandez aged this in 100% new Allier and Troncais barrels for 18 months. Point blank: We absolutely love it. It’s young, but incredibly crushable yet, and carries a clean elegance with pure aromas that are simply dreamy. We never have as much Shafer as we’d like, so move quickly!
PAIRING IDEAS: We don’t do this often, but... meatloaf. It’s one of those super-homey things that warms the soul, as does this bottling from Shafer. We like to fancy it up with a few things like bacon or prosciutto, and some rich chicken stock does wonders, too.