2008 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five
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Tasting notes
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is one of the more opulent, up-front, sweetly fruited wines, offers a smorgasbord-like bouquet of blackberries, currants, vanilla bean, espresso, tobacco, and sweet earth. Full-bodied, rounded, and lush on the palate, this classic mid-2000s Napa Cabernet plays in the hedonistic, ripe, sexy end of the spectrum, and it's aged beautifully! Drink this hedonistic dream any time over the coming 7-8 years.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(15.1% alcohol; includes 2% petit verdot): Bright, deep red. Aromatic, rather claret-like nose combines currant, tobacco, black licorice and minerals; more red fruit than black. Much less forthcoming on the palate than the merlot, showing strong soil tones and minerality to the cherry and cedar flavors. Finishes with broad, dusty, palate-saturating tannins. A serious, ageworthy wine with attractive floral lift.
The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five should turn out to be just as good. Slightly more powerful with sweeter fruit as well as more glycerin and fat, this is a big, full-bodied Stags Leap Cabernet offering abundant notes of roasted herbs, chocolate, cassis, incense and earth. Drink this deep, powerful 2008 over the next 10-15 years. While still renowned for their portfolio of classic world-class reds, Shafer also turns out a terrific non-malolactic Chardonnay from the Red Shoulder Ranch. The only dramatic change made over recent years is that instead of 100% being barrel-fermented and oak-aged, 25% is now aged in stainless steel which has added freshness and possibly longevity. Introduced several years ago, the Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five cuvee is aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. It is meant to be a reference point Cabernet from Stags Leap priced lower than Shafer’s limited production, usually monumental Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon. Shafer’s flagship offering is their monumental Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select (about 2,000 cases produced). Always 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for at least 30 months in oak, this is one of Napa’s most profound wines. Since 1999, Shafer has made a Syrah/Petite Sirah blend (usually 80% of the former and 20% of the latter) aged 32 months in 100% new French oak. The first vintage, the 1999 Relentless, which they opened at the winery to show how well it is aging, is still a baby at age 11. I rated it 96 points, which is higher than the 93 points I gave it in 2002. So much for California Syrah not aging well! The 1999 is still intense with a plum color and lots of grilled meat, herb, licorice and spice characteristics. Tel. (707) 944-2877; Fax (707) 944-9454