Shafer 'TD-9' Red Blend
Shafer 'TD-9' Red Blend is Napa Valley's most charming origin story in a bottle — a 750mL Cabernet-led red blend (the 2019 vintage per the listing: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot) at 15.3% ABV, aged 20 months in 100% new French oak. It is named for the TD-9 tractor John Shafer taught himself to drive in 1973, in the space of a few months going from Chicago commuter trains to a Napa Valley vineyard — "that spirit of risktaking and adventure," as the winery puts it, "still guides Shafer today and inspires each vintage of this wine." In the glass: vivid aromas and flavors of summer berries, black tea, rose petal, lavender, and black cherry, knit together with ripe Napa Valley tannins. Jeb Dunnuck scored the 2019 94 points. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Vintage / ABV: 2019 (per listing); 15.3% ABV — 750mL
- Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon / 33% Merlot / 8% Malbec / 4% Petit Verdot
- Vineyards: Stags Leap District, Yountville, and Vaca Mountain foothills
- Aging: 20 months in 100% new French oak (Allier and Tronçais)
- Name: "TD-9" — John Shafer's tractor, and the boldest move in family history
The Tractor That Started a Winery
In 1973, John Shafer did what few publishing executives do: he walked away from a 23-year career in Chicago, moved his family to Napa Valley, bought a 210-acre estate in the Stags Leap District, and taught himself to drive a TD-9 tractor on rocky hillsides that had to be terraced by hand. TD-9 the wine celebrates that leap — a proprietary blend that changes its stripes by vintage (the 2018 was Merlot-led at 56%; the 2019 is Cabernet-led at 55%) but always delivers Shafer's house style: rich color, pure aromas, and tannins built for the cellar. The 2019 drew a 94 from Dunnuck, who called it "round, sexy, full-bodied, and opulent" with aromatics of red and black currants, tobacco, chocolate, and lead pencil. Discover more red wine or browse everything from Shafer at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
The winemaker, Elias Fernandez: "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."
How to Enjoy
Drink now with an hour of air or cellar a decade — Dunnuck suggests it drinks beautifully over 10-12 years. Pair with beef, lamb, venison, or roast poultry; it also loves a hearty tomato-based pasta.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TD-9 stand for?
The TD-9 was the tractor John Shafer taught himself to drive in 1973 when he left publishing to start the winery — the wine honors that bold move.
What grapes are in Shafer TD-9?
The blend changes by vintage; the 2019 is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot.
Is TD-9 a Cabernet Sauvignon?
It is a Cabernet-led proprietary red blend — always Cabernet-dominant in recent vintages, but never 100% Cabernet.
The spirit of risk-taking, bottled — order Shafer 'TD-9' Red Blend from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.