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The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 is a smoking value, and it certainly competes with wines 2-3 times the price. Blackberries, dried flowers, black cherries, and leafy tobacco are just some of the nuances, and it’s medium to full-bodied, has silky tannins, and a layered, impossible to resist style. A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 11% Malbec, and the rest Petit Verdot, it’s going to evolve for 10-15 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
An incredible value, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 includes slightly more Merlot and is 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 11% Malbec and the rest Petit Verdot. Round, sexy, full-bodied, and opulent, it has terrific aromatics of red and black currants, tobacco, chocolate, and lead pencil shavings. Drink this hedonistic yet balanced, elegant beauty over the coming 10-12 years.
TD-9 is a proprietary blend that celebrates a bold move. In 1973, in the space of a few months, John Shafer went from riding morning commuter trains in Chicago to teaching himself to drive a TD-9 tractor in his Napa Valley vineyard. He’d never grown grapes or made wine in his life. TD-9 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec from a vineyard in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains just south of Stags Leap District. Aged for 20 months in 60-gallon French oak barrels (100% new). Spicy, crunchy dark berry fruits with some bitter cherry on the finish. Ripe fruit, generous and full-bodied. Matches this with some powerful oak influence, yet not over the top. Will age well for several years. Tannins rather obvious at the moment. (AWH)
The 2019 TD-9 is silky, aromatic and perfumed. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, spice and rose petal all show a move towards more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Forward and open-knit, the 2019 is an absolute pleasure to taste. Best of all, the 2019 will drink well right out of the gate.
About the producer
The site of Shafer has been around since 1880, and grapes continued to be grown here, even during prohibition. It is said that some wine was made here during that time. In 1972, John Shafer bought the property in the Stag’s Leap district, he immediately began planting the Cabernet on the hillside.