Crown Point 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara

Fantastic Cabernet from Santa Barbara newcomer Crown Point. Limited. 98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Crown Point 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is more Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated and checks in as 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It's another jaw-droppingly good wine from this team. Crème de cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, spicy oak, and a Pauillac-like lead pencil character all define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a flawlessly balanced, pure, layered mouthfeel, ultra-fine yet building tannins, and a great finish. It's borderline perfection, and quite possibly the finest Bordeaux blend I've ever tasted from Santa Barbara County. Drink bottles any time over the coming 20-25 years." The hidden gem of Santa Barbara County wines, Crown Point Vineyards in the Happy Canyon AVA is quietly producing some of California's best Bordeaux blends. An existing vineyard misplaced to Syrah, owner Roger Bower purchased the estate in early 2013, then set out to make the best Cab-blends in the state. First order of business - bring in some firepower. World-renowned oenologists Michel Rolland (Ch Ausone, CH Pavie, Harlan, Bryant Family Wines & Screaming Eagle) and Philippe Melka (Ch Haut-Brion, Petrus, Hundred Acre, Dominus & Dana Estates) were brought on board, as well as Harlan winemaker Adam Henkel. That team stayed intact through 2019 when Adam left and fellow Frenchman Simon Faury (also via Harlan) took his place. Leveraging the power of Santa Barbara's transverse mountain range, the rocky volcanic and loam soils are cooled by nightly breezes, affording their Bordeaux varietals the unique benefit of inland empire heat during the day, but coastal temps at night that elongate the growing season. Consumers and critics alike have taken notice, putting this 2,500 case producer in the world's finest restaurants, and on most wine report's "Best Of" lists.