Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2019

There’s not enough of it to go around, but after a little prodding, I was able to secure a small allocation of the wine that shocked the wine world when it appeared in the Top 10 of Wine Enthusiast’s ‘Wines of the Year’ in 2019.

The influence of the Caymus training on Austin Hope is maybe a little too obvious. The big, dark fruit-forward expression of Cabernet owes so much to that Wagner Family experience but featuring that unique Paso Robles’ layer of dense, rich smokiness. The wine is so big, yet perfectly chiseled, it’s no surprise it has emerged as the likely standard bearer out of Paso Robles. For three years running achieving 95+ scores.

If you’re a fan of decades-old Napa Cabernet from valley’s top wineries but haven’t adjusted to the sticker shock, this is your chance to get in on the ground floor. At the best price in the country – and extra access for coming out before the scores – this is one to stock up on. Buy a few to drink now, a few to drink five years from now and a couple for the long haul.