The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is brilliant, and up with the crème de la crème at the price point. Lots of cassis, graphite, unsmoked tobacco, new leather, and cedar notes all give way to a medium to full-bodied, elegant, beautifully balanced 2018. As with all these 2018s, it shows the pure, elegant style of the vintage and is going to age gracefully.

Composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five charges out of the gate with notes of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered cherries and blackberry pie plus suggestions of bay leaves, fertile loam and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, the mouth is completely coated with juicy black fruit flavors, supported by plush tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing with an invigorating herbal lift.

Shafer's Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five is bright and punchy in 2018, with striking floral accents that give lift. In most vintages, the One Point Five is a bit more exuberant, but what impresses me about the 2018 is its finesse. Silky tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish berry fruit as the wine fleshes out over time. Best of all, the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate.