Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 93 points
A vintage I was never as fond of as many of my colleagues, the 1999 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select certainly proved that they may have been more correct. Certainly not one of the all-time Shafer Hillsides, but nevertheless, a youthful, tannic, firm, structured wine, with more intellectual than hedonistic appeal at age 16, this wine has a dense purple color to the rim, notes of licorice, tobacco leaf, blackcurrants, followed by relatively high acids for a Hillside Select (or at least they present themselves that way) with some rather massive tannin. This is a big, medium to full-bodied wine with a Bordeaux-like structure imposed on it. It?s still moving in the right direction, and should hit its peak in another 4-5 years and then last for 15-20.
Review date: December 2014
Vinous: 95 points
(14.9% alcohol): Healthy dark red. Wonderfully complex, vibrant nose combines cherry, gravelly minerality, smoke, leather and truffley underbrush. Offers a compelling combination of sweetness of fruit and energy here a subtle hint of herbs just adds to the appeal of this densely packed, utterly fresh wine. Finishes with very suave tannins and terrific lingering perfume. This firmly structured cool-vintage beauty should continue to evolve positively for at least another decade.
Review date: July 2016