Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Renegade 2015
-
Tasting
Panel -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The rich yet approachable fruit character of the 2015 Renegade is a fine match for Provençal leg of lamb, beef pot roast with vegetables and herbs, bacon-wrapped filet, and classic cassoulet.
Blend: 55% Syrah, 27% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 5% Petit Verdot
SIP Certified
Professional Ratings
-
Tasting Panel
From the sustainably-farmed estate in the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, this flagship label is enjoying a terrific vintage. The blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Zinfandel, 13% Petite SIrah, and 5% Petit Verdot mirrors the rugged terrain on which the grapes are grown. With aromas of plum brandy, cassis, and jammy blackberry, bold flavors echo the nose. Chalky tannins are relieved by a juicy--yet meaty--quality, morphing the texture to more of a silky feel. Tilled soil, violets, and white pepper lead the change to the finish.
-
Wine Enthusiast
The price-to-flavor ratio on this bottling is astounding, as this blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah and 5% Petite Verdot offers all that Paso power at half the price. Intense black currant, blackberry pie, beef jerky and caramel aromas lead onto a palate full of chalky tannins and balanced acidity. The roasted blackberry flavors would pair perfectly with a beef stew.
Editors' Choice -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Renegade offers up aromas of dark fruit, subtle espresso roast and baking chocolate. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and chewy, with powdery tannins and a flavorful finish. It's a characterful red blend for a modest price.
Other Vintages
2020-
Tasting
Panel -
James
Suckling -
Wilfred
Wong - Vinous
-
Tasting
Panel -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wilfred
Wong
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wilfred
Wong
-
Wine
Enthusiast - Decanter
-
Wilfred
Wong -
Connoisseurs'
Guide
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Wilfred
Wong
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Tasting
Panel
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Tasting
Panel -
Wilfred
Wong
-
Tasting
Panel -
Wine
Enthusiast
-
Tasting
Panel -
Wine &
Spirits -
Connoisseurs'
Guide
-
Wine &
Spirits -
Wine
Enthusiast
We are a family-owned winery specializing in estate-grown wines from Margarita Vineyard, the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles appellation on California’s Central Coast.
Just look at a map of Paso Robles wineries and at the very southern tip you will find our Vineyard. Here, amid the rugged Santa Lucia mountain range just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the only vineyard in its vicinity, and thus the only vineyard to benefit from the extraordinary growing conditions of the area. Margarita Vineyard resides in the historic Santa Margarita Ranch, which was first planted to vines by Franciscan missionaries in 1774.
Ancient Peaks and Margarita Vineyard are owned by three longtime local winegrowing families—the Filipponis, Rossis and Wittstroms—who are actively involved in the daily operations of the vineyard and winery. Ancient Peaks wines are crafted under the guidance of Mike Sinor, a local winemaking veteran and one of the highest-rated winemakers on the Central Coast.
Ancient Peaks implements numerous sustainable viticultural practices to ensure natural quality in their wines while protecting the rich, native environment surrounding the Margarita Vineyard. Their practices have earned SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certification for Margarita Vineyard, the leading standard for viticultural sustainability.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Composed of steep mountain slopes of ancient Salinas River origins at 900 to 1,400 feet in elevation, Santa Margarita Ranch is in the southern portion of the greater Paso Robles AVA.