2006 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet

Good dark red. Stubbornly reticent, unevolved nose hints at dark fruits, coffee, tar and sea salt. Extremely backward on the palate, conveying a distinctly medicinal character to its flavors of dark cherry, tar and dried herbs. Savory more than sweet and evolving very slowly. Finishes with substantial tannins and a repeating saline character. When I noted that this wine seemed to be in a state of suspended animation, Elias Fernandez told me that `it`s still asleep--and it was always like that.` He seemed to be in some doubt that the wine would ever really blossom and open up in bottle. 91+ points