2019 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five
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Tasting notes
Glossy, svelte, luxurious – so much richness! Really intense and lengthy, with all the hallmarks of Napa embossed firmly into the wine: dark fruit, full body, sweet oak, lots of power yet retains drinkability – impressive. (RH)
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is a gem of a wine that readers will love to have in their cellars. Sweet cassis, violets, and graphite define the bulk of the aromas, and it’s a classic Napa Valley Cabernet on the palate with its full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and opulent yet balanced style. A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and the rest Malbec and Petit Verdot, raised 20 months in new barrels, it’s going to keep for a solid two decades. There are 9,000 cases of this beauty made.
One Point Five takes its name from the term ‘a generation and a half’ coined by John and Doug Shafer to describe their long father-and-son partnership. This family team worked together for decades to manage and grow their Stags Leap District winery. The wine is predominately from two Stags Leap District sites — Shafer’s hillside estate vineyard and the Borderline vineyard about two miles south of the winery. Aged for 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep, dark, violets and chocolate notes here. Very appealing if you want a full-bodied, ripe style from Napa. Firm tannins, oak is clear and present but the overall balance is very good. Lovely fruit purity. Has a cool aftertaste which keeps everything nice and fresh. (AWH)
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is such an elegant wine. Bright, red-toned fruit and effusive aromatics lend striking brilliance to a Cabernet that is gracious and light on its feet. The 2019 stands out for its freshness and red fruit profile. It is beautifully done. One Point Five remains one of Napa Valley's little hidden gems; a wine that is seldom talked about in a discussion of the very top bottlings, but a Cabernet that never disappoints.
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.