OVERVIEW
Cabernet Sauvignon is the longtime flagship wine of Ancient Peaks, helping drive the
emergence of Paso Robles as a world-class region for this classic Bordeaux variety. At our
estate Margarita Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon achieves both ripeness and balance amid
one of the region’s coolest, longest growing seasons, all while drawing natural complexity
from the vineyard’s uniquely complex soils.

VINEYARD
The 2021 vintage spans a range of diverse Cabernet Sauvignon blocks from across Santa
Margarita Ranch, collectively planted to soils of calcareous ancient sea bed, Monterey shale
and rocky alluvium. These blocks feature many of Margarita Vineyard’s original mature
plantings as well as multiple new blocks and clones, including the new Quarry section of the
vineyard. These different blocks, clones and soil profiles combine to create a naturally complex
and multi-layered estate Cabernet Sauvignon with a signature mingling of red and black fruit
flavors. Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles
region, nestled into the rugged Santa Lucia Mountain range just 14 miles from the Pacific
Ocean in the new Santa Margarita Ranch AVA. The mountain peaks act as a gateway for cool
marine air, resulting in an extended growing season that yields fruit with uncommon depth and
structure. The peaks are also testaments to the tectonic forces that created Margarita Vineyard’s
rare diversity of soils, ultimately creating natural complexity in our wines.

WINEMAKING
The 2021 growing season was marked by temperate weather, extended ripening and
dry conditions that fostered excellent flavor concentration—all converging to create a
standout vintage in Paso Robles. Each individual block of Cabernet Sauvignon was picked
at individual ripeness over a period stretching from early October to early November.
After gentle destemming, the lots were cold soaked for 48 hours prior to fermentation for a
smooth extraction of color and flavor. After fermentation, the lots were racked to an equal
combination French and American oak barrels, where they aged for 19 months prior to
blending and bottling. Small lots of estate-grown Merlot, Malbec and Petite Sirah were
incorporated into the final blend for enhanced color, mouthfeel and flavor dimension.

TASTING NOTES
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with expressive aromas of plum, boysenberry, red
currant, black olive, caramel and toasted oak. Broad, chewy textures deliver layered
impressions of blueberry, cherry, cassis and violet with undercurrents of graphite, sage,
eucalyptus and vanilla bean. Fresh acidity and fine tannins carry into a long, expansive
finish. A wonderfully integrated and complex Cabernet Sauvignon.

CUISINE PAIRING
The rich yet lively character of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon makes a great match for
lamb chops, portobello mushrooms, aged cheddar cheese and filet mignon with black
olive sauce.

HARVEST DATES:
October 5 through November 4

19 months in French and American
oak barrels (25% new)

Alcohol: 14.3%
TA: 63
pH: 3.78