Product Overview
Winery's Notes
"Ad Ripa is a project over a decade in the making, born from a deep connection to place, family, and the remarkable potential of Bordeaux varieties in Santa Barbara County’s Happy Canyon.
Since 2010, winemaker Justin Willett has worked with Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties grown in this unique eastern corner of the Santa Ynez Valley. Nestled between the San Rafael and Santa Ynez Mountains, and bordered by the Santa Ynez River with the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, Happy Canyon has revealed itself as one of California’s most exciting regions for Cabernet-based wines. The ocean’s influence — much like Bordeaux’s relationship with the Gironde — plays a defining role in shaping the wines grown here.
While Willett is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay through his work with Tyler Winery in the Sta. Rita Hills, Cabernet Sauvignon has always held a personal significance. Following the passing of his father in 2016, he began producing a small amount of Cabernet under the Tyler label as a tribute — his father wasn’t a big wine drinker, but always appreciated a good bottle of Cabernet on special occasions. After six vintages, it became clear that those wines deserved their own identity. Ad Ripa is that identity.
This Cabernet Sauvignon embodies the unique characteristics of the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA, where the convergence of the warm eastern reaches of the Santa Ynez Valley and the cooling influence of the Pacific create ideal conditions for Bordeaux varieties. With this appellation-level bottling, we aim to highlight the harmony and balance that the region naturally lends to Cabernet, capturing both its structure and elegance while staying true to the distinct voice of Happy Canyon."
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Clones: Clones: 4, 8, 28, and To Kalon
Appellation: Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA
Vineyards: China Blue Vineyard, Happy Canyon Vineyard
Aging: 22 months in French oak, 50% new
Winemaker and Owner: Justin Willett
91 Points - Wine Advocate
"Derived from young vines at China Blue and Happy Canyon Vineyards, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a classic bouquet of leather, dried herbs and dark chocolate, set against a core of red and black fruit. The palate is supple, polished and elegantly plush, culminating in a rich finish framed by chalky tannins." -ML, 11/6/25
91 Points - Vinous
"Decidedly red-fruited, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara) shows all the classic Cabernet signatures, unfurling in the glass with bittersweet chocolate, red cherry, tobacco, mocha and dried herbs. Medium-bodied and nicely structured, it remains hemmed-in and calibrated through the even-tempered finish." -BN, Aug/2025
