Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
Entrepreneur Roger Bower hired Harlan Estate alum Adam Henkel to deliver top-tier wines, and this first release is an extremely auspicious beginning. Black as night in the glass, the wine delivers elegant aromas of olallieberry jam, baking spice, shaved chocolate, beef jerky, teriyaki and purple flowers. The sticky structure will age phenomenally, further concentrating flavors of coffee foam, soy-laced berry sauce, Asian pepper spice, and dense blueberry, black cassis and black plum fruit. Drink 2018–2033.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (100%) is the first vintage from Crown Point. Deep ruby-purple, it still benefits from a decant, with slowly evolving aromatics, iron-laced cassis and roasted plums accented by touches of mushrooms, tobacco leaves and grilled meats. Medium-bodied and supple, the palate offers rich plum fruits and graphite undertones on the long finish.
-
Wine Spectator
An impressive effort that's vibrant, rich and expressive, showcasing intense spice, cedar and dark berry notes, with touches of anise, mocha and dried herb. Ends with gripping, fine-grained tannins that give the flavors traction. Drink now through 2028.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
On the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, the rolling hills of the tiny Happy Canyon AVA produce top quality reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and whites from Sauvignon blanc. The region’s low-nutrient soil grows smaller vines and in turn, higher quality wine grapes.