2015 Booker Cabernet Sauvignon Ones

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Ones is probably the best Cabernet ever made from these limestone hillside vineyards in Paso Robles, and it reminds me of some of the top 2013s from Napa Valley. Blackcurrants, violets, lead pencil shavings, crème caramel and tobacco leaf nuances all emerge from this big, full-bodied beauty that has a stacked mid-palate, good acidity, ripe, present tannin and a structured vibe that’s going to age beautifully. It offers sensational purity and is a killer wine any way you look at it. Forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades. One of the leaders of the Paso wine scene is undoubtedly Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyard (I’ve affectionately called this group the motley crew before). Jensen and his wife Lisa purchased these 72 acres in 2001, with their wines released in 2005. Since then, the wines have evolved from uber rich and forward, to today where they’re more polished, complete and structured. Looking at his 2015s, which Jensen compared to his 2010 and 2013s, they show the more elegant style of the vintage, yet pack plenty of fruit and texture. His 2016s are certainly bigger wines, yet have plenty of tannin and a focused style on the palate which I suspect will benefit from short term cellaring. In addition to his Rhône variety releases and blends, it’s worth pointing out the quality coming from his Cabernet Sauvignons as well. These are seriously good wines!