Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five 2022 Shafer

Tasting Notes

Crushed black cherry at first, followed by black currant, mocha and notes of cedar from the French oak. This is exactly what characterizes Stag's Leap. Silky flavors in the mouth, followed by a wave of fine-grained tannins that fill the mid-palate but don't dry it out. The 2022 wine is more concentrated than the 2021 wine. The Merlot adds plump plums and the Petit Verdot adds floral notes. If opening now, decant for an hour.

Grape Varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon takes center stage at One Point Five, typically making up 85 to 90 percent. But what about the rest of the blend?
Stags Leap District is known as a fit for Merlot, and you can feel why Merlot has earned its place in this wine.

• Merlot rounds out the mid-palate and softens the Cabernet's tannins.
• Malbec makes the color darker and adds more dark fruit.
• Petit Verdot adds violet flavors and structure.

Cellaring Potential

Best for storage between 2027 and 2040; the tannins in 2022 are more mature than usual thanks to the September heat, but still firm enough to last several years in bottle; store at a stable temperature of 12-14°C. Expect notes of cedar and mocha to develop into notes of tobacco and leather.

The Producer

Shafer Vineyards is one of the most prestigious names in Napa, earning its reputation for its Cabernet Sauvignon varietal. John Shafer bought the neglected site in 1972, planted the hills himself and made his first wine in 1978. What has kept the wines consistent is that his son Doug Shafer joined the company in 1983 and winemaker Elias Fernandez in 1984, and they've been working side by side ever since. We sell Shafer because that consistency is evident in the bottles.

Terroir & Climate

The Stags Leap District is located in the eastern part of Napa Valley, where the soil is volcanic loam over a rocky subsoil. Why it's important. Drainage. Vines are forced to push their roots downward in search of water, which reduces yields and concentrates fruit. In addition, a wind known as the "Stags Leap effect" brings cool air from San Pablo Bay every afternoon. The days are hot and the nights are cool. This diurnal variability gives Cabernet a wealth of flavors and characteristic suppleness.

Winemaking

All grapes are harvested by hand and passed through an optical sorting machine so that only pure fruit enters the tanks. Fermentation takes place in a gentle mode. The choice of oak is very important: the wine is aged in French barriques (small 225-liter French oak barrels) for about 20 months, with a high proportion of new oak. Cedar, vanilla and toasted spices emanate from here. The density of the Stags Leap District fruit means that the oak supports rather than overwhelms the wine. You taste the flavor of the wine, not the wood.

Food Pairing

Cabernet of this structure needs fat and protein. Some suggestions:

• Grilled ribs, charred on the outside and pink on the inside. Beef fat softens the tannins.
• Whole roast lamb with rosemary. Herbs echo the savory notes of the wine.
• Mature hard cheeses, such as 24-month aged cheddar.
• Mushroom risotto.

Serve at 16-18°C. Decant young bottles within 1 hour.