STORY
Our pursuit is to craft the standard for coastal Cabernet Sauvignon.
At Crown Point Vineyards, we believe the future of Cabernet Sauvignon lies in the balance between power and elegance. Our extraordinary estate in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA offers the opportunity to pursue that vision, producing wines of remarkable richness and concentration without sacrificing freshness, finesse, or approachability.
We embrace the contrasts that define our vineyard: the intensity of our rocky hillsides, the elegance of our gentler terrain, and the cool evenings that shape our wines’ fine-grained tannins and supple texture. Through meticulous farming and thoughtful winemaking, we seek to preserve these qualities in every vintage.
Our ambition is not to replicate the great Cabernet Sauvignon regions of the world, but to establish a new benchmark—one that expresses the distinctive possibilities of coastal California Cabernet Sauvignon.
An intimate understanding of site is at the core of our viticulture ethos.
ESTATE Vineyard
Our pursuit is to craft the standard for coastal Cabernet Sauvignon.
At Crown Point Vineyards, we believe the future of Cabernet Sauvignon lies in the balance between power and elegance. Our extraordinary estate in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA offers the opportunity to pursue that vision, producing wines of remarkable richness and concentration without sacrificing freshness, finesse, or approachability.
We embrace the contrasts that define our vineyard: the intensity of our rocky hillsides, the elegance of our gentler terrain, and the cool evenings that shape our wines’ fine-grained tannins and supple texture. Through meticulous farming and thoughtful winemaking, we seek to preserve these qualities in every vintage.
Our ambition is not to replicate the world’s great Cabernet Sauvignon regions, but to establish a new benchmark—one that expresses the distinctive potential of coastal California Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winery
At the heart of Crown Point Vineyards, a former horse barn has been transformed into a purpose-built estate winery, designed to integrate seamlessly with our 30-acre, 28-block vineyard in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA.
Every aspect of the winery is designed to preserve the individuality of our vineyard. Each block, grape variety, and selection can be harvested, fermented, and aged as a distinct lot, allowing us to explore the full range of character our estate has to offer.
With an array of French oak barrels, upright oak fermenters, concrete vessels, and stainless-steel tanks, we have the flexibility to preserve these individual expressions before thoughtfully assembling our final wines. Rather than imposing a predetermined style, we build each wine from its individual components, balancing the richness and power of our hillsides with the elegance and finesse of our vineyard flats.
This meticulous, block-by-block approach allows us to craft coastal Cabernet Sauvignon with remarkable depth, precision, and balance, while preserving the freshness, fine-grained tannins, and supple texture that define Crown Point.
team
Roger Bower
Proprietor
AJ Fairbanks
Estate Director
Simon Faury
Winemaker
Twana Connors
Chief Financial Officer
Juve Buenrostro
Vineyard Manager
Philippe Melka
Consulting Winemaker
Vintages
2013
Inaugural Vintage
The 2013 vintage was void of extremes consisting of a warm, dry spring that ultimately advanced the season. Fortunately, we avoided the dramatic heat spells that often accompany such advanced timing. The lack of heat waves allowed for seasonally appropriate harvest timing for the Bordeaux varieties. Distinguishing the wines is a full-body, crushed-velvet tannin structure reminiscing the vintage conditions.
2014
Estate Selection Introduced
The limited moisture in the soil during the warm spring and moderate summer resulted in an earlier maturation of the grapes. The combination of less water and warmer temperatures contributed to the production of wines with exceptional color and concentration. Overall, the wines display a silky texture that complements the vibrant fruit flavors.
2015
Five Bordeaux Varieties
2015 was an extremely dry, early, and quick vintage etched in our memories for years to come. The winter and spring rainfall was well below average, and variable weather saw several hot days above 100° during July and August. Although a remarkably small vintage in terms of yield and quality – the fruit intensity was excellent.
2016
Cool & Graceful
The estate was blessed with a nearly flawless growing season, courtesy of Mother Nature. The conditions in the vineyard were ideal, resulting in uniformly ripe and concentrated fruit that displayed mature and rich tannins right from the vine. The excellent growing conditions allowed us to produce exceptional wines that truly reflected the quality of the vintage.
2017
A September to Remember
The 2017 vintage at Crown Point was characterized by a mild winter and spring, which resulted in an early bud break. Although it was a warm vintage, with a final heatwave in late October, there were only seven days where temperatures rose above 100 degrees, making it a relatively moderate year. Additionally, the nighttime temperatures throughout September and October were cooler, with lows in the 50s. This allowed for a gradual ripening process, resulting in integrated and fine-grain tannin accumulation, and a consistent maturation. Overall, the vintage produced wines with balanced and refined flavors.
2018
A Classic Vintage
At Crown Point, the 2018 vintage began with a temperate winter and mild spring, resulting in a bud break that was in line with the seasonal average. However, June and July were warmer than usual, with temperatures consistently in the 80s and 90s, respectively. This led to an early water deficit in the vineyard, which in turn reduced the size of the berries. Although there were only six days with temperatures above 100 degrees before veraison, there were none following it. This limited exposure to high temperatures allowed the vines to ripen the fruit without any heatwaves, resulting in a classic vintage with perfect flavor accumulation and tannin ripeness. Overall, the growing season was reminiscent of our fantastic 2016 vintage.
2019
A Mediterranean Growing Season
The 2019 vintage was fascinating beginning with a mild winter and reasonable amounts of winter rain (24 inches), well above the Santa Barbara County rainfall average. However, the cold month of May delayed flowering and harvest. We experienced one day above 100 degrees in June, three in July, two in August, and five in September, accelerating ripening and providing an attractive sweetness to the wines. October provided a respite for the vines and extended hangtime with temperatures consistently in the 80s. While the September heatwave marks the vintage, the cooler weather allowed the vines to recover and gracefully adapt.
2020
A Vintage for the Ages
The 2020 vintage was exceptional, and possibly the most noteworthy of the last decade. The winter storms brought about 15 inches of rain to the valley, which was in line with recent averages. The spring and summer were temperate, with temperatures ranging from high 80s to low 90s. The coastal proximity helped temper the late summer heat wave with a cooling pattern, allowing the vines to gracefully recover. The balance provided by mother nature allowed us to harvest grapes with precise acidity, low sugar levels, and unique flavors.
2021
Exceptional Balance
Fortuitously, a dry winter was followed by early spring rains, which created a balanced budbreak and shoot growth. The spring continued to be dry, in line with the typical weather in wine country. The slightly above-average temperatures during the summer were ideal for fruit development and ripening, and remarkably, there were no days above 100°. As a result, the vines ripened slowly and without heat stress. The extended hang time and consistent cluster ripening contributed to a vibrant color and fine-grain tannins, making this vintage particularly memorable. The wines are complex and structured, and their refined balance suggests that they will age well over time.
2022
Coastal Resiliency
The 2022 growing season began with a mild winter, bringing 10 inches of rain. Spring and summer temperatures adhered to historical, coastal-influenced norms, setting the stage for a promising harvest. A twist occurred as Labor Day approached, as the forecast signaled an imminent heatwave. After enduring seven days above 100°, relief abounded as the vineyard demonstrated remarkable resilience, affirming the site’s pedigree.
2023
Slow & Brilliant
The 2023 growing season commenced with an atypical 33 inches of winter rain, providing relief to the vines and delaying budbreak. Below-average temperatures and spring fog extended the delay, pushing veraison to late August. Fruit sampling in September hinted at a European vintage with good acidity and lower brix. Towards mid-September, a positive shift occurred with consistent, sunny mornings and temperatures in the 70s and low 80s – ideal conditions for ripening. The result was dark fruit coupled with incredible flavors, maintained acidity, and exceptional complexity. A testament to a great vintage, these wines are delightful in their youth and are anticipated to age gracefully for decades.
