TASTING NOTES:
In a word: purity. While Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon and our Astral selection retain - and at times - emphasize Cabernet's fresh herbal qualities, Star pushes forth cassis and brambly berries which are fresh and purely expressed. The herbs are there, but as accents and somewhat veiled - at this stage - into a general floral quality. The nose is immediately attractive but not in a completely revealing way. It acts forward but clearly has more to give which engages the mind to desire additional whiffs to unearth the mystery. The texture is soft, with pure flavors, elegant and beautiful. Honestly, we take pride in showing Cabernet wrapped in such fresh prettiness as it demonstrates its ability to be more than a brooding beverage. Special and age worthy, look forward to exploring this wine for many years.

WINEMAKER NOTES:
2016 was a straightforward vintage with moderate yields and a good pace to ripening. As September ended, we did see a series of heat spells that condensed our harvest by accelerating ripening. The resulting wines were superb. Their extra generosity led to shorter amount of time on skins to ensure structure did not become overwhelming. We utilized less new oak than 2015 because the fruit had a sweetness and depth that did not seem to benefit from extra oak.

VINTAGE NOTES:
As with recent vintages prior, another dry winter and warm spring led to an early start to the growing season. Spring and early summer remained warm but overall the season was even and moderate in temperature throughout. As we moved into ripening season in September, temperatures began to rise. A few heat spells in late September consolidated harvest timing and grapes arrived in a hurry. Quality proved excellent. Generous wines emerged, with signature Happy Canyon qualities of fresh herbs and blue fruits.