Crème de cassis, cigar tobacco, rich dark cherry. Creamy blackberry, crushed gravel, chocolate covered açaí. A wonderfully deep and decadent procession of blueberry preserves, baked red plum, and boysenberry pie struts with outstanding richness and concentration as hints of toasted vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon enhance the display with wafts of lifted baking spices. Bursts of fresh iris and perfumed violet generously emerge to provide waves of deep floral overtones that playfully intertwine with intriguing natural notes of eucalyptus and roasted red bell pepper. Impressions of toasted marshmallow and hazelnut latte impart subdued bits of opulence while still leaving room for earthy flecks of graphite, asphalt, and rocky soil to shine. Delightfully bold, extracted, and structured on the palate while retaining outstanding balance and freshness; exhibiting a rugged yet wonderfully polished presentation that is perfectly authentic to both grape and place. Medium plus in body with powerful tannin fleshed out by wonderfully bright acidity. This 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon by Star Lane Vineyard is a brilliantly seductive and serious red from Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara.

Though Santa Barbara County is one of California's most southerly major winegrowing zones, this region benefits from significant cooling influences from the nearby Pacific Ocean that actually endow it with a much more moderate climate than many northern regions. This bottling, crafted by Star Lane Vineyard using Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from their estate in Happy Canyon, beautifully showcases the distinct combination of concentration and freshness that Santa Barbara Cabernet can uniquely achieve. This wine radiates deliciously dense yet perfectly balanced black, blue, and red fruits bolstered by bright florals, integrated herbal tones, stony earthiness, and a tasteful kiss of toasted new oak. Though it is already drinking extremely well today this will certainly continue to develop and improve in bottle, and will be a stunner for many years to come. Excellent.