2008 Merlot
Released SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
Suggested California retail: $48.00
“One of California’s most popular luxury priced Merlots is also one of the state's best.”
— Richard Nalley, Forbes
To deliver a wine loaded with color, extract and concentration, Shafer vineyard crews pass through the vine rows a number of times as harvest approaches cutting away less-ripe and under-developed fruit. This allows the vitality of the vine to focus on the remaining top-quality fruit. With added hang time, sugars and flavors increase markedly.
While this wine is officially designated with the Napa Valley appellation, its fruit is sourced from within just a three mile radius in the Valley’s cooler southern end. Half of our fruit for our Merlot comes from a hilly Shafer-owned vineyard we’ve informally dubbed, “School Bus,” located about a quarter mile due south of Stags Leap District. The remainder is cultivated within Stags Leap District by growers we’ve worked with closely for years.
Merlot is a finicky grape – a bit too much rain, a touch of frost early in the season – will easily result in less than ideal fruit. Early on each season our vineyard team culls any weaker fruit leaving only the best-of-the-best on the vine, ensuring that the wine exhibits lush, ripe, mouthfilling flavors that are true to varietal character.
Winemaker’s Notes
“2008 Merlot has a lively, perfumy nose that begins the moment the bottle is opened – delicious aromas of red cherry, raspberry, red plum, cherry kirsch. In the mouth are rich, juicy, palate-enveloping flavors of pure red and black fruit, red licorice, and hints of mint and toasted almonds. The tannins are round and smooth and part of the long, pleasing finish.” — Shafer winemaker Elias Fernandez
2008 Merlot Fact Sheet |
Finding Our Wines Robert M. Parker Jr.’s The Wine Advocate, December 2010 |
2008 Merlot – Reviews
"A huge, fruit-packed wine, made in the Shafer style of mass and potency. With 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and lots of new oak, it's explosive in black cherry, cherry liqueur and cedar flavors, with a spicy, salty umami taste, like pepperoni. Give it a decant of several hours."
— Steve Heimoff, Wine Enthusiast
"… a fragrant blueberry bouquet with a hint of peppermint. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, nicely balanced, and smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty blueberry with notes of red cherry and a hint of plum and minerality. The finish is dry and its moderate oak tannins stick around for a little bit. This Merlot is very food friendly and would pair perfectly with Kobe bacon burger sliders."
— Ken Hoggins, KensWineGuide.com
"A merlot with depth. Aromas and flavors of cherry, herbs and spice. Balanced. Nice length."
— Peg Melnik, Santa Rosa Press Democrat
"… hint of oak, flavors of both tart and sweet black cherries and anise, full body, hearty, big, ripe tannins, very smooth, long finish."
— Fred Tasker, Miami Herald
" … delicious, fresh, fruit-forward red wine. It's packed with a good mix of red cherry and blackberry quickly backed up by dark chocolate and a swirl of warm, minty spice mid-palate. This medium-bodied, super supple Shafer Merlot showcases lovely fruit, round, pliable tannins and a rich, enduring finish."
— Stacy Slinkard, Wine Guide, About.com
" … the wine is pure finesse, with lively cherry and red plumb notes and some deep fruit character on the palate. It was definitely silky and beautifully crafted with hints of toasted nuts and mint with a very long finish."
— Jorge Ferraez, Latino Leaders magazine
2008 Merlot Downloads
Shafer Brochure
2011 Current Releases
2008 Merlot Fact Sheet
2007 Merlot Fact Sheet
Robert M. Parker Jr.’s The Wine Advocate, December 2010
Celebrating our 25th Vintage of Merlot
Since planting our first Merlot vines in 1983, the Shafer vineyard and winemaking team have learned a lot about cultivating this fruit and producing this wine. It’s been an exciting journey and we want to share with you our love of this rich, delicious wine.