94pts Jeb Dunnuck

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. Best After 2022

93pts James Suckling

Aromas of blackberries with old spice, dark cherries and cloves, following through to a medium to full body with a sold core of ripe fruit and a creamy and stony underlying character. Juicy and rich, yet not overbearing. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec and petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in 2025.

91pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2019 Red Blend TD-9 is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 11% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, alluring notes of mocha, tapenade and truffles jump from the glass, backed up by a core of cassis and stewed plums. Full-bodied, juicy and plush in the mouth, it has a lively line and a wonderfully pure, fruity finish.

90pts Wine Spectator
Polished and direct, with a beam of cassis and plum puree flavors flanked by singed vanilla. Features a flash of sweet tobacco on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Winemaker Notes

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 our Napa Valley vineyard. He’d never grown grapes or made wine in his life. That spirit of risk-taking and adventure still guides Shafer today and inspired the creation of this new wine.

“This vintage of TD-9, with more than 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, fills the glass with vivid aromas and flavors of summer berries, black tea, rose petal, lavender, and black cherry. All this juicy radiance is knit together with ripe Napa Valley tannins, offering abundant enjoyment today while promising even more beauty with time in your cellar." - Shafer winemaker Elias Fernandez

The long, sunny 2019 summer created a beautiful growing season. The fruit developed rich color and clean, elegant, and pure aromas and flavors.

Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot