VHR Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Vintage

VHR 2022 Similar to the remarkable 2021 season, 2022’s wonderful growing conditions produced a small Cabernet Sauvignon crop of exceptional quality at Vine Hill Ranch, despite a late-season heat event and California’s persistent drought. With roughly 30% of average annual rainfall, most during the relatively cold winter months, 2022 witnessed an early budbreak in our vineyard. A warm start to the growing season was marked by limited spring rains that supported canopy growth and crop set, and ideally temperate conditions in July and August combined with intensive effort in the vineyard to promote balanced maturation.

Although mild overall, the 2022 summer was punctuated with a rare and extended heat incident in early September. VHR’s harvest was largely complete prior to the onset of that event, resulting in a wine of remarkable structure, bright fruit character, and phenolic complexity. Fruit harvested from August 30 through September 13 from blocks 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 contribute to this wine’s extraordinary site expression, varietal character, and complexity, providing a signature depth showcasing the individual vineyard blocks.

The 2022 VHR Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon is highly structured and expressive, with tremendous energy and opulence. Dark red fruit, lavender, rose petal, spice, and citrus saturate the palate with myriad layers, breadth, and texture. This expansive and lush mouthfeel is framed by a seamless bond of fine-grain tannins, purity of fruit character, vibrant acidity, and savoriness. Altogether, a wine that is balanced, persistent, and distinctive to our family’s vineyard in Oakville.