Rangeland News September 2025: New 2022 Cab Release

Swan Song

The year 2022 was an interesting one in California vineyards, featuring a historic Labor Day heatwave that forced early harvests statewide. Westside Paso Robles saw 10 consecutive days of 105+ degree temperatures. All the red varieties, which usually roll in over two months of gradual picking, ripened at once and were threatened with dehydration. The entire region turned into a mosh pit of night picking and processing grapes in the searing heat of the day. The roads were jammed with fruit laden trucks. Nerves were frayed. Winemakers and vineyard crews were sweat soaked, bee stung and exhausted. 

At Rangeland, Lisa and I had already decided to make less wine and slow down our busy lives a little. It was also a turning point for our family, as our first grandson was born on September 7 of that year. Although we sold some 2022 wine in barrel to other wineries, we decided to bottle our last Cabernet (just 190 cases)  as a swan song, an homage to the Rangeland label, to our wonderful customers and to the spawn of our spawn, the beautiful and precocious little Lairdie. In all family fairness, we also pay homage to young Laird's parents, Sam and Samantha, who rule the little lord with nurturing, firmness and remarkable patience. 

As one might expect from a ripe and rapid harvest, our 2022 Cabernet offers remarkable concentration and richness. It is balanced by nice complexity and enough acidity to make this "big" Cab also a good food wine. The wine presents a vivid red cherry nose with a hint of toasty oak. It exudes herbal butterscotch, sage and dark roasted coffee on the palate, carried in an energetic matrix of ripe red fruit.  Velvety tannins transition to a lively, lingering finish, redolent of anise, that begs for a second glass, or bottle. Our 2022 Cabernet includes 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec. Aged 30 months in 50% new French oak. 

If you are thinking you might someday miss having Rangeland Cab in your cellar, this swan song 2022 Cabernet is worth hoarding. Although the list price is $55 per bottle, we are offering it to our loyal customers at a significant discount. Order now at the following special prices and we will ship your wine with ice packs to beat the late summer weather:

• 6 bottles of 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon for $299, shipping included, before club discount.
  Order here.
• 12 bottles of 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon for $499, shipping included, before club disount. 
  Order here.