Review: Wines of Ancient Peaks, Early 2025 Releases
Paso Robles-based Ancient Peaks is no stranger to the pages of Drinkhacker, and today we showcase four wines that have recently hit the market.
2023 Ancient Peaks Chardonnay Paso Robles Santa Margarita Ranch – Creamy but featuring a restrained oak profile, light on notes of vanilla but enough to keep things interesting. Melon and lemon curd do more of the heavy lifting, with some coconut coming into focus on the finish. Clean and easygoing, this is a solid by-the-glass offering (and better than most of what you’ll find out there). A- / $20
2022 Ancient Peaks Merlot Paso Robles Santa Margarita Ranch – Soft and easygoing, with ample red fruit offering a berry-driven pop from the start. However, it’s the significant notes of toasted marshmallow, featuring ample char, that quickly become dominant. Darker berry notes give the finish a more pungent, extracted quality, ringed with notes of eucalyptus. Again it’s a solid crowd-pleaser, especially at this price. A- / $24
2022 Ancient Peaks Zinfandel Paso Robles Santa Margarita Ranch – Quite an approachable zin, showcasing intense notes of dried plums and raisins, followed by black cherry cordial. Sweet but not too sweet, with a chocolate undertow that features a finish of gingery Christmas spices. Dense and chewy at 14.5% — almost like a brownie — concluding with a reprise of tart Maraska cherry. B+ / $24
2022 Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles Santa Margarita Ranch – Chewy but light-bodied, this cab’s iconic currants are tamped down and cherry-adjacent — and infused with loads of vanilla, becoming insistent as the wine develops. The wine ultimately leans into its sweeter side as it builds in the glass, finishing with a gentle mix of raisins and sugar cookie dough, ever so slightly on the saccharine side. B / $28
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