“Quite simply, I was blown away by what I tasted.” – Vinous

We could, in theory, just say 96-point Cabernet at 70% off and call it a day.

So why don’t we?!

Cause we’re geeks, dear Ops, and we like to geek out no matter how well a wine sells itself.

We whispered abracadabra through the cellar door, and there emerged a Cabernet that’s been sitting pretty, aging to perfection, ready to crash into our world, today, direct from the winery library.

AND THAT PRICE? Was $150… so how about we give you $105 back?!!!

Winemaker Tyler Thomas cut his teeth at HdV in Napa, and Donelan in Sonoma before moving south to replicate his tried-and-true formula of success. Per Jeb Dunnuck “Thomas continues to do a fabulous job at this estate, fashioning classic, beautifully balanced, age-worthy Bordeaux blends” with the flagship Astral being “one of the finest wines I’ve tasted from this estate, and it’s world-class.”

Vinous confirms that “A vast, expansive ranch, Star Lane is home to some of the finest Cabernet in Santa Barbara. I tasted a handful of prior vintages with winemaker Tyler Thomas, all of which appear to be built for the long haul. The Astral Cabernet, mostly from own-rooted vines, is the top wine here…”

A decade of age on the vintage, and it has mellowed out some but is shockingly youthful and balanced impeccably like a tightrope walker on a monocycle. Reminiscent of First Growth Bordeaux on a warmer vintage, with gobs of black fruit layered with dried herbs and pencil shavings minerality. We can’t begin to even imagine how this would make dry-aged steaks on a hot grill sing all night long.

Make it a caser for those special weekday nights all summer long… but at this price do it fast!

96 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Fans of old-school California Cabernet will want to pay close attention to these new releases from Star Lane. Winemaker Tyler Thomas has done an extraordinary job of bringing out all the best qualities of this Happy Canyon site. Quite simply, I was blown away by what I tasted. Readers will also want to check out the wines at Dierberg, Star Lane’s sister property focused on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The 2014 Astral Star Lane Vineyard emerges from a parcel of own-rooted vines. A dark, powerful wine, it is endowed with superb richness in every dimension. Dark cherry, pomegranate, iron, smoke, wildflowers, rose petals, mint, and blood orange infuse this spectacularly rich, intense Cabernet Sauvignon. Even with all of its density, the 2014 retains striking purity, and silky tannins add to the wine’s polished feel. Dollops of Petit Verdot and Malbec round out the blend. Wow! Drink 2019-2034.”