Ranch 32 Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 (California) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a lovely California Cabernet Sauvignon that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the August 19 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Ranch 32 Wines, a winery known for producing premium wines from Monterey County. They planted their first vines in 1972, when winegrowing in Monterey County was in its infancy, and are situated on the west side of the Salinas Valley, directly in the path of Monterey's relentless afternoon winds. Although the region was known to have special, unique qualities, it would take a few decades for the vineyards to reach their full potential.

At Ranch 32, their goal is to highlight the natural characteristics of their terroir to convey a sense of place by producing small lots of wines from their sustainable farmed estate vineyards located in Arroyo Seco, San Lucas, and Hames Valley AVAs. Their winemaking approach is very targeted, exerting the highest level of control over details such as vineyard design, pruning, tying, and picking decisions. Clone-specific blocks are harvested and fermented separately in small lots, with oak ageing applied to support the fruit and not overwhelm it. The final blend is composed just before bottling to express the nuances of each terroir and variety.

Sustainability plays a major role at Ranch 32 with a wind turbine that sits at the heart of their property. This turbine became operational in 2017 and powers the entire winery, plus an additional 125 homes with renewable energy. Using wind as a power source is ideal in this location due to the inexhaustible winds of the Salinas Valley. They also use integrated pest management strategies by allowing beneficial insects and birds to control pest populations, as well as herbal-based preparations that are applied in the vineyards to promote soil vitality through increased micro-biologic activity. Water usage is minimized by using 100% drip irrigation in all of their vineyards. Ranch 32's vineyards were certified sustainable by California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance in 2014, while their winery operation was certified in 2018.

This red wine is crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was grown - most likely from their vineyards in San Lucas and Hames Valley - in the Monterey County AVA, which is within the much larger Central Coast AVA in California. The grapes were grown on diatomaceous shale, Lockwood and Chamise shaly loams, and in a warm climate with dramatic diurnal temperature shifts. The fruit was picked during the night, at optimum ripeness, and brought to the winery in the very early morning hours. Upon arriving at the winery, select lots of the grapes were carefully sorted, de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented dry for 10 days in open-top stainless steel tanks. It was aged in French and American oak for 12 months.

From a traumatic 2020 vintage that had to battle wildfires and the pandemic, the quality of the wines that were bottled were good to excellent. Let's see how this 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from California is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

RANCH 32 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2020 - Monterey County, California, USA (#480269) (XD) - $25.95
Crafted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium-high intensity nose has attractive currant, cassis, black cherry, and chocolate aromas with hints of earth and dried herbs. It's full-bodied and dry with delicious currant, black cherry, cassis, chocolate, gentle vanillin oak spice, and earthy flavours that are supported by very good, well-balanced acidity and smooth, refined, and well-structured tannins. It's nicely balanced throughout, with currant, black cherry, savoury cocoa, and vanilla notes lingering on the finish, with very good length. Honest Cab and a recommended buy! Score: 90 pts

Other lovely Ranch 32 Wines can be ordered through their Agent - Churchill Cellars.