At the table with Hillside Select 2023
Dry-aged rib of beef, crusted rack of lamb, tournedos Rossini, pigeon with ceps, extra-old Mimolette.
Our wines for
Let's talk little, let's talk wine
Hillside Select 2023Shafer
Hillside Select is the purest expression of the Shafer estate: it comes exclusively from the property's hillsides in the Stags Leap District, within the Napa Valley. It blends the Sunspot, John's Folly, Hitching Post and Palisade blocks, whose small, deeply coloured berries offer remarkable concentration. The 2023 vintage, one of the longest and coolest in more than a decade, allowed slow ripening until the end of September.
The grapes are harvested by hand and then destemmed. Alcoholic fermentation, carried out with native yeasts, and skin maceration take place in stainless-steel tanks for around a month. The wine is then aged for 28 months in new 228-litre French oak barrels from the Allier and Tronçais forests, and bottled without fining or filtration.
This wine reveals notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, liquorice, lilac, cedar, cigar box and cracked pepper. Vibrant black fruit dominates, carried by floral, spicy and woody notes of great complexity. The palate is voluptuous, rich and velvety, structured by ripe, tight-knit tannins, with fine freshness and a generous, persistent finish.
Where are we traveling?
Napa ValleyUnited States
It lies an hour's drive north of San Francisco, nestled between the Vaca Mountains to the east and the Mayacamas to the west, forming a narrow valley barely 50 kilometres long. The vineyards stretch from the cool, foggy south near the marshes of San Pablo Bay to the hot, enclosed north around the small town of Calistoga, passing through the legendary villages of Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. The valley's winegrowing history began in the 1830s with George Yount, but it was the Judgement of Paris in 1976 that propelled Napa onto the world stage, when a Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena and a Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars outscored the greatest French crus in a blind tasting. The climate is Mediterranean, hot and dry in summer, tempered by morning fogs that roll in from the bay and sweep up the valley, giving the grapes the cool nights essential to their balance. The diversity of soils is remarkable, from the alluvial deposits of the valley floor to the volcanic rocks of the hillsides, with no fewer than sixteen distinct sub-appellations. Napa Valley has become the world benchmark for Cabernet Sauvignon thanks to opulent, concentrated wines of exceptional longevity, complemented by full, generous Chardonnay, silky Merlot and a handful of Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel that bear witness to the richness of a terroir that has become legendary.
The little history of the country
United States
In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors to California that boosted the California wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in the Sonoma and Napa region. At the start of the 20th century, there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933 Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the California wine industry so that by 1933, only 140 wineries remained producing wine. It was only from 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition and California was primarily known for the production of fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous estates were created (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc...).
In 1976, a significant event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgment of Paris". He sees the greatest French wines opposing the new American wines. This May 24, an unexpected result shakes the world of wine, since to everyone's surprise, it is the United States which wins. However, this competition remains relatively unknown to the general public.
Today, there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Even though California largely monopolizes the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and the state of Washington offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet-Sauvignon.
All about Hillside Select 2023
At what temperature should Hillside Select 2023 be served?
Between 16 and 18 °C. An hour in a decanter helps it open up.
How long can Hillside Select 2023 be kept?
Ageing potential: 10 years or more, until at least 2033. Store the bottle lying down, away from light, at around 12 °C.
Which grapes make up Hillside Select 2023?
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Origin: California, United States. Alcohol: 15.5%.
What to serve with Hillside Select 2023?
Hillside Select 2023 pairs well with lamb, beef and hard cheese. Our dish ideas are in the food pairing box at the top of the page.