2017 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is a great success in the vintage and not far off the brilliant 2016. Blackcurrants, graphite, scorched earth, and tobacco notes all define the nose, and it's full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel and outstanding length. It has ripe, building tannins (which are more polished now than just over a year ago), terrific balance, and the class to evolve for another 10-15 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is dense, plush and creamy. Super-ripe dark cherry, cloves, menthol, licorice and earthy notes give the 2017 a distinctly dark, exotic feel. Plush and generous on the palate with sweet, silky tannins, the 2017 is a big wine that will drink well right out of the gate. I wouldn't push my luck on aging here, though.
Made up of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Merlot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is deep garnet-purple colored with pronounced crème de cassis, blackberry pie and Black Forest cake notes with a waft of bay leaves, cigar box, tar and smoked meats. The palate is full-bodied, firm and chewy with a taut, muscular mid-palate and an herb-lifted finish.
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is bold and immediate. Today, most of the wine's intensity is up-front, but the tannins are presently constricting the mid-palate and finish. It will be interesting to see where this goes over the next year or two.
About the producer
The site of Shafer has been around since 1880, and grapes continued to be grown here, even during prohibition. It is said that some wine was made here during that time. In 1972, John Shafer bought the property in the Stag’s Leap district, he immediately began planting the Cabernet on the hillside.