Ad Ripa 'China Blue Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Happy Canyon, California

REGION

Happy Canyon, Santa Barbara, California

 

VARIETAL

Cabernet Sauvignon

 

TASTING NOTES

Situated just 1.5 miles from the Happy Canyon Vineyard, China Blue Farm maintains a strong connection to the essence of the Santa Ynez Valley. This horse ranch, nestled on the valley floor, is home to our small Monopole planting of Cabernet. This unique setup affords us the privilege of overseeing vineyard operations with our in-house team, all while adhering to our organic farming practices. The soils here are primarily clay loam, riddled with cobbles of red chert and serpentine.

 

Now, with Cabernet from both the Happy Canyon Vineyard and China Blue, we gain a distinctive perspective on the region, enabling us to discuss the valley floor and hillside in a more subjective manner and appreciate the intricacies of each site. Notably, China Blue exhibits a pronounced character, boasting a dense, savory fruit core harmonized by the herbal, menthol freshness that defines Santa Ynez Cabernet. -Winemaker's Notes

 

94pts - Wine Advocate
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon China Blue leads with a polished, blue-fruited nose flanked with subtle tinges of tobacco, woody accents and the welcome herbal lift that runs through this roster. The palate is beautiful and decadent while remaining alluring and light on its feet, concluding with a graceful, harmonious and tense finish that gently but persistently swells in dimension with time in the glass. It’s a fantastic and unique showing of Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon.”

 

93pts - Vinous

“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon China Blue Vineyard is polished and sensual from the get-go. Crushed flowers and bright redtoned fruit immediately confer freshness and a level of high-toned notes not especially typical of Happy Canyon Cabernets. This is an especially savory and pungent Cabernet. Soft tannins make it a delight to taste, even in its youth.” 

 

(Practicing Organic)