Winemaker Notes
Opaque purple in color, this Bordeaux blend is a great representation of Crown Point in 2014. Jumping from the glass is a sumptuous and savory nose of crème de cassis, baking spice, subtle kirsch, and black raspberries. The debut release of Crown Point Estate Selection is a decadently textured wine that seamlessly weaves together toasty oak, polished tannins, and bright acidity in a provocative and uncompromised package. Quite opulent and hard to resist now, its impeccable balance will allow it to evolve for years to come. Expect it to reach the peak of integration and showing off a full display of complex aromas and flavors by 2024.
Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec, 11% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
A bold and delicious wine from the extremely interesting Happy Canyon area, located north of Santa Barbara. Deep garnet color with an exquisite nose of plum and vanilla and a rich, luscious texture; ripe and dense with abundant spice and a refined style.
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Wine Enthusiast
Extremely dense in the glass, this epic bottling offers lavish and penetrating aromas of black currant and elderberry jam on the nose alongside seared beef, chocolate cake and a pinch of violet. Expertly balanced, polished tannins make for a soft mouthfeel yet firm structure, carrying flavors of black fruit, chocolate and grilled figs that lead to an espresso note on the finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2014 Estate Selection incorporates smaller amounts of Malbec and Merlot and was also aged just over two years in new French oak. Its similarly inky colored, yet has a touch more freshness and purity in its leafy herbs, chocolaty dark fruits, graphite and mineral-laced aromas and flavors. Concentrated, structured and lengthy, with plenty of ripe tannin, it's terrific today, in a youthful sort of way, but will be better with short term cellaring and keep for two decades.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Estate Selection is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec and 11% Merlot. The first iteration of this cuvée, it is in a lovely spot for drinking, although it will continue to evolve in bottle for another decade. Deep ruby in color, its blackcurrant and dark plum fruits are beginning to take on mature touches of mushrooms, soy sauce and desiccated roses. The medium-bodied palate is resolved and silky, striking a fine balance of youthful fruit and savory maturity, finishing with great length.
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James Suckling
Deep, rich, savory and rather earthy, this concentrated Central Coast red combines ripe blackberries and mulberries with generous, plush tannins and a bold, long finish. Just beginning to open up and probably has many years of life ahead of it. Drink or hold.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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.