Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Star Lane Vineyard is a gorgeous wine. It is also very young. In 2018, the Cabernet emphasizes fruit density and power, while the savory notes that are typical of this site are nearly buried. Blueberry, tobacco, licorice, smoke, incense and leather open with some coaxing, but the 2018 needs at least a few years in bottle.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Beautiful cassis, blackcurrants, tobacco, and sandalwood notions emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Star Lane Vineyard, and it’s medium-bodied, with a wonderful sense of elegance, silky tannins, and outstanding length. A classy, impeccably balanced Cabernet Sauvignon that shows the style of quality of this estate, it’s going to keep for 15+ years. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, and the balance Malbec, all aged 22 months in 35% new French oak.
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.