2002 Shafer Hillside Select: 100 Point Napa Legend
We just received a 6-pack original wooden case of the 2002 Shafer Hillside Select, and once it's gone, there isn't another one to source. This is one of the most decorated vintages of one of Napa Valley's most celebrated Cabernets, and it rarely surfaces on the open market in this condition.
About This Wine
Hillside Select has been Shafer's flagship since John Shafer planted his first Cabernet Sauvignon vines in 1978. The fruit is sourced from a single, unusual site: a 54-acre amphitheater of steep, volcanic hillside behind the winery, more box canyon than vineyard. Topsoil here is almost nonexistent. Roots hit bedrock within about 18 inches, forcing the vines to work for everything they get.
That stress is the entire point. Smaller berries, more concentration, and a wine with the structure to spend 32 months in 100% new French oak without ever tasting like a barrel.
In 2012, Robert Parker revisited the 2002 alongside Antonio Galloni as part of "A Retrospective of 2002 Napa," a decade after its release. The wine earned a perfect 100 points on five separate tastings, and it's currently the highest-rated Hillside Select vintage on CellarTracker, ahead of every other year Shafer has produced.
Two decades in, the wine is fully resolved and drinking beautifully today, with another 15 to 20 years of life ahead of it for anyone with the patience to hold a few back.
Why This Case Matters
This isn't a case you'll see restocked. Once these six bottles sell, sourcing another OWC of the 2002 Hillside Select at this level of provenance becomes a matter of luck, not inventory. If you collect Napa cult Cabernets or have been building out a vertical of Hillside Select, this is the vintage that belongs in it.
Interested in reserving a bottle or the full case? Shop the 2002 Shafer Hillside Select here, or reach out directly and we'll set it aside for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the 2002 Shafer Hillside Select considered a legendary vintage?
The 2002 earned a perfect 100 points on five separate tastings from Robert Parker, including a notable 2012 retrospective tasting of the vintage a decade after release. It has since earned perfect scores from multiple critics and sits as the highest-rated Hillside Select vintage on CellarTracker.
Is the 2002 Shafer Hillside Select ready to drink?
Yes. Two decades past release, the wine is fully resolved and drinking beautifully now, with an estimated 15 to 20 years of life remaining for those who prefer to cellar it further.
What makes Shafer's Hillside Estate vineyard unique?
The vineyard is a 54-acre, amphitheater-shaped site with almost no topsoil, where vine roots hit bedrock within roughly 18 inches. That scarcity produces small, concentrated berries capable of absorbing 32 months in 100% new French oak without the wine ever tasting overtly woody.