ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1273
 | | 04/21/2004 6:44 PM |
| | At Shafer yesterday we had the opportunity to taste a barrel sample of the 2001 HS. This is going to be a killer wine. Huge, huge black fruit with a hint of tobacco and spice on the finish. Even in the barrel it was very drinkable. I can't wait to find out what it is like in a few years. Very yummy. | | | |
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mike nelms
Grape Destemmer
Posts:96
| | 04/21/2004 7:16 PM |
| | Tasted it out of barrel in August and agree. It was as good as the '99 and '94. Did they sell you guys a Sunspot mag, or do you have to go back on the 1st? Mike | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1273
| | 04/21/2004 7:44 PM |
| | They aren't selling it until the 1st. But they are closed on the 1st and 2nd, so you actually have to go on the 3rd. That's what they told us anyway. | | | |
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Randy Wigginton
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5427
| | 04/21/2004 7:46 PM |
| Yup. Any chance I'll be bumping into any of you on the 3rd?  | | | |
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mountainman
Mammoth Mountain
Wine Bottler
Posts:3113
| | 04/21/2004 9:43 PM |
| | I will be there next week on the 28th and will try my luck (what's a few days). | | | |
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Randy Wigginton
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5427
| | 04/21/2004 10:42 PM |
| | Nothing ventured, nothing gained... but they will probably be very strict about this policy. But if you can sweet talk your way past them... more power to you | | | |
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winebrat
Sacramento, Ca.
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2326
| | 04/22/2004 5:36 AM |
| | I will be there with a Thermos of coffee first thing in the morning. | |
"Everyday is worthy of a glass of sparkling wine" - Andrea Immer MS | |
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mike nelms
Grape Destemmer
Posts:96
| | 04/22/2004 8:32 AM |
| | I tried sweet talking for one bottle of '95 HSS a few years back when I lived in Texas and happened to be at the winery 3 days before the release. No dice. At least I got on the list and have been getting offers since '96. If they bent the rules for this Sunspot bottling, there would be none left come May 1st. Of course, I'm not really sure what is so special about May 1...other than it gives all the non-mailing list folk an equal chance at one. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Destemmer
Posts:94
| | 04/22/2004 1:21 PM |
| FYI:
Pops wine and spirits online somehow got hold of 6 01' Sunspot Mags. A little steep @ 700 bucks but if you buy all six you get 15% off (I think?) That's if you can't score one at the winery. | | | |
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ojeffso
warren, new jersey
Wine Lover
Posts:4877
| | 04/22/2004 2:27 PM |
| | that's if they really have them in stock. | | | |
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Eric Mottram
Grape Sorter
Posts:261
| | 04/22/2004 7:09 PM |
| | FYI spectator just gave the sunspot 93 pts...but gave the Caymus ss 95 ..typical | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1273
| | 04/22/2004 7:10 PM |
| Quote:
I will be there with a Thermos of coffee first thing in the morning.
Just remember - they told us that even though the release date is May 1, the winery is closed until the 3rd. So if you show up on the 1st, you'll be waiting a looooooong time. That had better be a BIG thermos! | | | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts:2764
| | 04/22/2004 11:04 PM |
| As I discussed with mm last night, I had no luck talking them into a Sunspot when I was there Tuesday. Even played the "my son was born in 2001" card with Dan (?) Shafer. No dice, but it did not hurt to ask anyway. I told him I was from Denver, and would not be back. He turned to the Nulls and asked them if they could come around and pick it up for me.
"sigh" Hopefully they can.
Mike | | | |
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ChangeMe
Barrel Filler
Posts:1273
| | 04/22/2004 11:57 PM |
| | Mike - as we'll be in the Valley on the 1st, and the 3rd is a working day, it is not looking so good... Wish they were open on Saturday. | | | |
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mike nelms
Grape Destemmer
Posts:96
| | 04/23/2004 7:03 AM |
| | Mike, It's John and Doug Shafer. Did they really say they would allow someone else to pick it up for you (I thought it was one per person max)? I'm sure some folks will bring the entire family to buy a six-pack. | | | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts:2764
| | 04/23/2004 3:34 PM |
| They said it was limited to one per person, but yes, you can take as many people as you want. Me thinks they will sell out very quickly that morning.
Mike | | | |
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| | 03/14/2005 9:14 PM |
| 2001 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stag's Leap District
This bottle was brought to the dinner by Elias Fernandez. It showed a big nose of ripe cabernet fruit and chocolate... lots of chocolate. The palate was incredibly unctious and full with chewy mouth-filling texture and tastes of bittersweet chocolate, spice and ripe berries. The wine showed a big, big structure with the alcohol, tannins and acidity all in the right place. A great experience. The table picked this as the best wine to drink in the future. I picked it as one of the best wines I have ever had the privilege to put in my mouth. Elias Fernandez says there have been three perfect years for Hillside Select fruit. 1994, 2001 and 2004! I can hardly wait! (98 pts.) (Tasted 3/13/2005) | | | |
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LC17SMP
Barrel Filler
Posts:1052
| | 03/14/2005 9:46 PM |
| | Thanks for the info Paul. I got married in '04 and I hope its a good year in Napa. I will probably be on the HSS list by then also. | |
LC17SMP | |
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whiner
Second star to the right, and straight on till morning
Wine Thief
Posts:2869
| | 09/26/2005 1:51 AM |
| Great nose with lots of supperblack fruits and a bit of tar. Monsterous, almost unctous, in the mouth but not showing anything other than cassis and some tar. The finish is the same. No matter how much swirling it got, this was not giving up the complexity that I know is lurking beneath the surface. I bet this was better last year and will be great again in two years. But, this was a bit of a let down. 93(+?)
BTW: I think you can still get a bottle or two at Shafer. | |
I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland.
-- Woody Allen | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 09/26/2005 12:36 PM |
| whiner,
i felt the same way about the 99 when i opened it young. i have faith in shafer though. | | | |
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