2005 Merlot

Elias Fernandez described September of 2004 as a period of unrelenting heat, with the wines showing the effect of heat spikes. He noted that the particularly hot end of the harvest was a logistical nightmare, and that for every big, lush cabernet in Napa Valley there's another one that's overripe and pruney. The big crop and cooler harvest temperatures in 2005 resulted in a much slower ripening process and produced wines with lower alcohol levels, said Fernandez. Those wineries with lower crop levels were able to bring the acid levels down in their grapes. With the 2004 vintage, Shafer has renamed its cabernet "One Point Five" as an homage to father-and-son John and Doug Shafer. The name comes from the fact that John Shafer only made his first wine in 1978, with Doug taking on winemaking responsibilities just five years later-more like one and a half generations than two.