2019 Broken Earth Winery Cabernet Sauvignon CV Reserve Paso Robles 750 ml

In 1973, Paso Robles’ 7,000 residents had no idea of the seismic shift happening in the hills outside their sleepy hamlet. The community was small and agricultural, but Herman Schwartz had grand visions, planting Cabernet at a time when even Napa wines—much less Paso Robles—weren’t on the world’s radar.

But a half-century later, his vines are gloriously mature—some of the oldest in all of Paso—and in truly exceptional vintages, Broken Earth bottles tiny-berried Cabernet from those original plantings as their CV Reserve. 

Those original vines form the heart of this blend, with a few other choice blocks included as well. This is the winery’s top bottling, and they skim the cream off the top for it. Given a no-expenses-spared treatment in the cellar, it ages in 100% new oak barrels for nearly two years.

In 2019, Broken Earth was treated to one of the region’s greatest ever vintages. The season began with a generous gift from the heavens—abundant rainfall that quenched the thirsty earth, replenishing groundwater reserves that had been dwindling for years. As buds slowly unfurled in the cool spring air, vineyard workers whispered hopeful predictions, their eyes scanning the rows for signs of the vintage to come.

Summer arrived with a gentle warmth, coaxing the grapes towards ripeness with a patient hand. Unlike the scorching heat waves of years past, this season offered a perfect balance—warm days that nurtured the fruit, followed by cool nights that preserved delicate flavors. As September dawned, clusters hung heavy on the vines, their skins painted dark purple. Patient vintners like Broken Earth watched and waited, knowing that this slow ripening would yield wines of exceptional clarity and finesse.