Shafer Vineyards Shafer TD-9 2023 750ml

This TD-9 Cabernet Sauvignon, not to be confused with other TD-9 red wines, shows an amazing clarity of dark fruit. Its deep black cherries, blackberries and touches of black olive embody classic Cabernet. Beautifully integrated tannins lend a posh texture that’s still bracing enough to help the wine age and improve. Best from 2026–2036. (Jim Gordon)

A classic Napa Valley cabernet that shows vivid flavors of red and black cherries on a big, broad texture and full body. Fine-grained tannins add structure and shape on the palate, as brilliant raspberry and cranberry flavors meet bold and deep blackberry and blueberry notes. Drink now or hold.

A full-bodied while refined Cabernet Sauvignon, the TD9 cuvée delivers the strength and generosity so characteristic of Shafer wine. Aromas and flavors of cassis, ripe blackberries, and freshly cracked pine fill the mouth leading into a lengthy and expressive finish of graphite and warming spices.

The first vintage where they’ve put Cabernet Sauvignon on the label, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, and the rest Malbec, raised all in new barrels. Medium ruby/purple-hued, it has a killer nose of caramelized red and black fruits as well as lead pencil, dried flowers, and toasty oak. It’s balanced, medium to full-bodied, and just about impossible to resist. There are roughly 10,000 cases produced, and it’s a wine readers will love over the coming decade. (Jeb Dunnuck)

So full-bodied, broad and ripe-tasting. It gives a mouthful of indulgent fruit flavors on an agreeable texture. Moderate to full tannins lift dark plum, dried cherry, subtle vanilla bean and cocoa accents. Drink or hold.

Dried cherries, blackcurrants, chocolate, sweet licorice, anisette and hints of moist earth on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, refined and velvety with a softer, powdery tannin structure. Attractive core of ripe black fruit with a lingering finish. Cabernet sauvignon. Better after 2025. (James Suckling)

Bright and juicy, with a fun burst of blackberry and boysenberry fruit laced with hints of sweet bay leaf, violet, singed apple wood and licorice root. Good brambly energy runs underneath, giving this a vibrant feel as well as ample structure for the cellar. Best from 2025 through 2038. 9,000 cases made. (James Molesworth)

Shafer’s TD-9 is now a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, with the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 being composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Offering up scents of cherries, wood spice and vanilla, it may lack a bit of complexity and concentration, but this full-bodied effort still hits all the right notes, finishing long and velvety. (Joe Czerwinski)

Named for the tractor acquired with the original property in 1973, Shafer's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 blends fruit from the estate with purchased fruit to provide an entry-level Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, aged in 100% new French oak, it does offer plenty of vanilla and spice shadings to balance the cherry fruit. Full-bodied and velvety-textured, it offers plenty of pleasure for what amounts to a fair price within the Napa scheme of things. With more than 10,000 cases produced, it should be widely available at steakhouses and retail. (Joe Czerwinski)

Named for the tractor acquired with the original property in 1973, Shafer's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 blends fruit from the estate with purchased fruit to provide an entry-level Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, aged in 100% new French oak, it does offer plenty of vanilla and spice shadings to balance the cherry fruit. Full-bodied and velvety-textured, it offers plenty of pleasure for what amounts to a fair price within the Napa scheme of things. With more than 10,000 cases produced, it should be widely available at steakhouses and retail.

This lets copious boysenberry and blackberry puree notes glide through, while melted licorice, sweet toast and warmed fruitcake accents fill in through the generous finish. A crowd-pleasing style. Drink now through 2031. 10,000 cases made.

The 2022 TD-9 checks in as 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 4% Malbec, and the rest Petit Verdot. It has a juicy, lively, medium to full-bodied style to go with pretty red and black fruits, some spicy wood and floral notes, fine tannins, and a great finish. (Jeb Dunnuck)

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 is a pretty wine. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit and sweet spice tones are nicely lifted. This is an especially delicate, aromatic Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the lighter structure of the year. (Antonio Galloni)

Shafer's 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon TD-9 was presented prior to bottling. It's a full-bodied, ripe, opulent style, supple and not overly tannic but still has enough backbone to partner a steak. Fruit-forward and dominated by black cherries and cassis, it finishes long and mouthwatering. For the price, it's a solid value and—with 10,000 cases expected to be bottled—probably the most likely to wind up on your local steakhouse's wine list.