April 8, 2021 - It was sheer perfection, having had 20 years to fully come together. There were beautiful flavors at all levels from the first to the last sip. We just wish we had more.
August 30, 2020 - Still incredibly good.
July 13, 2020 - Cork broke, but bottom stayed intact and removed with ah-so...poured a glass and came back 15 minutes later...dark red...rich nose of red fruit (cherries, plum)...no way this is 20 years old...smooth finish that lasted a good 20 seconds...third and final bottle from a purchase in 2004...best of the lot.
May 15, 2020 - Cork broke so had to decant, but was open right from the beginning. Beautiful color, no bricking, still drinking surprisingly well for being close to 20 years old. Black currant, vanilla, some pepper (early), rich and beautiful. Very, very good. Can't imagine it getting better.
April 29, 2017 - Popped and poured...still dark in color with no bricking...good fruit with a long finish...still some tannins...holding up very well.
March 20, 2017 - Still big and powerful, with juicy black currant on the nose along with eucalyptus, mint, jasmine, pepper steak, tobacco and a hint of vanilla. Palate has lots of the currant flavor along with a heavy dose of mushroom, some smoke and vanilla. Alcohol is just slightly out of balance.
Decanted and needed to pour though cheese cloth because the cork broke, although it was just dry (not soaked through). Hit its peak after maybe 90-120 minutes.
March 10, 2017 - This '01 is a little darker in flavor than the '05 One Point Five (same wine with a name change in '04) with a slight smokiness to it, but otherwise similar in profile on the palate and nose. The reason I mention that vintage of One Point Five is that it's rare for an '05 to outshine an '01, but such is the case here.
There was about a teaspoon of sediment between what was left in the bottle and in the decanter. The smoke, like from burning oak leaves, got less noticeable with time. A little cocoa powder peeked out as the smoke diminished. The wine just doesn't have the "wow" factor anymore. The Dust has settled (hahaha! A purposely bad pun.) so it's lost a little of it's charm. Still, a great bottle that can go several more years..... just not blowing my skirt up as high as slightly younger Shafer Cabs. YMMV, particularly if you like Cabs after the Rutherford Dust has fallen out of suspension. I certainly like resolved tannins, but the Dust adds some character that I miss with this bottle.
This is my last bottle, and it's message to me is that I should drink up the 3 remaining 2005's I have this year.
November 13, 2016 - Excellent again. Usually overshadowed by the HSS , this gem holds its own very nicely .
December 31, 2015 - Big cabernet with rich notes of cherry, oak and plum. Brilliant dark ruby in color, with a long finish. Exceptional wine.
July 3, 2015 - Exceeded expectations by a mile. Mature cab with fruit that is in no way over the top, flabby, or sweet. Not super complex, but still a treat with Flannery hangers. I wish I had more. Bought on release from a wine shop and cellared since.