McEvoy Ranch Long Barn Cabernet Sauvignon

Coming on the heels of the spectacular 2021 vintage, many were poised to judge the 2022 vintage harshly. Indeed it was less uniformly good than 2021, owing in large part to the two heat waves we had in September. But vineyards that were harvested early—generally this means Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and perhaps Sauvignon Blanc—fared extremely well, and the wines, although a bit on the ripe side, are delicious. Cabernet Sauvignon generally ripens late, or at least later than Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but at Pacheco it ripens early. In fact, we usually pick it just as we are finishing up the Pinot Noir harvest. In 2022 the flavors are a little riper than the 2021, but they are not jammy or cooked. The alcohol is a touch higher but not unreasonably so. Color and concentration are excellent. Pacheco is always a generous wine, with plenty of ripe fruit. And for Cabernet, it is not terribly tannic. It is, I dare say, pretty easy going! It likes big food and lots of meat. It would not be out of place next to a pot of Chili Con Carne or a stack of ribs.

Vintage Notes

2022 was a bit of a challenge, and most of the drama came late. For most of the year, growing conditions were good, with the exception of late frost in the spring, which thankfully did not impact the Pacheco Ranch, source of the Long Barn Cabernet Sauvignon. There were the usual ups and downs during the year, a few heat spikes and the aforementioned frost, but the big story was the hot weather during harvest. You can almost set your calendar by the Labor Day heat wave that happens 9 years out of 10, the only variables being whether it comes a day or two before or after Labor Day, how hot it gets, and how long it lasts. In 2022 it was fierce, and we picked the Pacheco Ranch on September 5, which was right in the middle of the heat wave. One might think this would spell an unhappy outcome for the wine, but the old, own rooted Cabernet vines at Pacheco are sturdy and can take the heat. The sugar, acid and tannin at harvest were close to ideal. This is why we like old vines. Later ripening vineyards had much more variable results in 2022 but the early stuff is great!

Winemaker Notes

Writing winemaking notes for the Long Barn is repetitive, because we do the same thing every year. Hand sort the fruit when it comes to the winery. Ferment it with naturally occurring yeast. Age it in a combination of barriques (225 liter) and puncheons (500 liter), only a small percentage of which is new. We rack the wine a couple of times during aging, one fairly early on to give it some air (this often helps the wine finish fermentation and also helps with the development of the tannins) and once just before bottling, to assemble the various barrels and get it all in one place. Other than that we leave it alone. The wine likes that, and so do we.

Specs

• Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon 95%, Cabernet Franc 5%
• Harvested: September 5, 2022
• Appellation: Marin County, CA
• Vineyard: Pacheco Ranch
• Growing Method: dry farmed, sustainable
• Bottled: February 21 2024
• Fermentation: Native yeasts; open top tanks with a combination of pumpover, delestage and punchdown
• Barrel Aging: 16 months in Francois Frères 500L French oak puncheons and 225 liter French oak barrels, various coopers
• Alcohol: 14.19%
• pH: 3.60
• TA: 5.8 g/L
• Production: 207 cases
• Winemaker: Byron Kosuge

What’s Included

6-bottles:

• 6x - 2022 Long Barn Cabernet Sauvignon, Marin County, CA

Case:

• 12x - 2022 Long Barn Cabernet Sauvignon, Marin County, CA

Price Comparison

Not for sale on winery website, $456/case MSRP

About The Winery

• Winery: McEvoy Ranch
• Owners: The McEvoy Family
• Location: Petaluma, CA

A renegade approach and a love of the land inspired our Founder Nan McEvoy to purchase this 550-acre sprawling ranch in West Marin County in 1990. Inspired by her love of Tuscan olive oil, Nan engaged Dr. Maurizio Castelli, a leading authority on agriculture, to recommend the best olive varieties for our unique setting. Fast-forward twenty years and McEvoy Ranch is one of the preeminent leaders in certified organic, extra virgin olive oil. A favorite of chefs – both at home and in restaurants that favor the farm-to-table approach.

Beginning with the 2010 vintage, we handcrafted limited-edition wine offerings showcasing the impact of the Petaluma Gap’s breezes and our distinct soil. In keeping with our history, we grow several Mediterranean varietals in addition to Pinot Noir and Viognier.

To maintain a healthy balance with our natural surroundings only 15% of our acreage is planted. This purposeful strategy aligns with our strong commitment to ensure we provide good land stewardship for our olive orchards, grape vineyards, and other fruits, vegetables, and flora grown on the estate.

Available States

AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Estimated Delivery

Monday, Mar 30 - Tuesday, Mar 31

2022 McEvoy Ranch Long Barn Cabernet Sauvignon
6 bottles for $59.99 $10/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $99.99 $8.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping

How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2022 McEvoy Ranch Long Barn Cabernet Sauvignon - $20 = 16.66%

I was hoping for some rats. I don’t see much on this wine out there.