Winemaker Notes
Capturing the unique terroir of Crown Point's vineyards nestled on volcanic hillsides, they meticulously hand-select grapes that undergo a 25-day fermentation in a combination of oak and concrete vessels. After fermentation, the wine matures for 22 months, with 50% of the time spent in new French oak barrels. This careful process results in a wine of incomparable character, highlighting finesse and complexity that truly embodies the essence of their hillside vineyard.
Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lastly, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from more volcanic, hillside parcels and is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Petit Verdot. Aged in 50% new and 50% once-used French oak, it sports a deep plum/purple hue followed by Saint-Julien-like notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, spring flowers, and smoked tobacco. The real deal, it's full-bodied, concentrated, and structured, with incredible purity and precision, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Another sensational Bordeaux blend from this team, it has some up-front appeal yet won't hit maturity for another 7-8 years and will be a 30+ year wine. Bravo!
Rating: 98+ -
Wine Enthusiast
This winery continues to reveal how intense yet nuanced Santa Ynez Valley Cab can be when no expense is spared. The nose features the expected blackberry aromas but is set apart by the waves of anise, thyme and peppercorn. The palate is lush and polished in structure, offering rich black fruit flavors awash in mocha, vanilla and cappuccino elements that linger long.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 3% Petit Verdot and was matured for 22 months. It has slowly unfurling layers of cassis, thyme, allspice, roasted lamb, cedar and pencil shavings. The full-bodied palate is powerful and structurally harmonious with cashmere-textured tannins and seamless acidity. It has a highly concentrated core of savory, mineral-driven fruit at this youthful stage and a long, spicy finish. It will be long lived in the cellar.
Rating: 95+ -
Vinous
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex, dynamic wine. Super-ripe dark fruit and strong savory notes saturate the palate. This strapping, dense Cabernet Sauvignon has a ton of character. Blackberry, licorice, incense, dried herbs and cloves fill out the layers. Potent and substantial, the 2020 has a ton to offer.
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James Suckling
Aromas of violets, white rocks, blueberries and cranberries give way to on-point freshness, raspberries and black cherries on the palate. So lively with acidity, braced by fine-grained tannins and ready for many more years of development. Drinkable now, but best from 2030.
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.