Ad Ripa 'China Blue Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, 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 - Vinous

"The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon China Blue Vineyard is plush and rich yet extremely precise. Cocoa powder, lavender, dried thyme and blueberry fruit are layered over a harmonious, upright frame, lifted by attractive freshness on the finish. Give this a few years to come together."

 

93pts - Wine Advocate

"The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon China Blue represents a substantial step up from the introductory bottling, opening with a lush, dark-fruited nose that features a pleasant touch of herbal complexity alongside aromas of pipe tobacco and gravel dust. The palate is rich, elastic and suave, seamlessly transitioning into a textural finish propelled with an even-keel spine of acidity and framed by grippy, persistent tannins."

 

(Practicing Organic)