Santa Margarita
2020 Ancient Peaks Cabernet Franc and Mesquite Chicken Salad
The Winery
Photo from Ancient Peaks Website
Up until a couple of years back, I had not tasted Ancient Peaks Cabernet Franc, nor was I really aware of their winery. I was so impressed from my first sip, I scheduled to visit them in December 2023 and have enjoyed their wines ever since. The winery was founded by Karl Wittstrom, Rob Ross and Doug Filipponi. Mike Sinor has been the founding winemaker since the first vintage in 2006.
Map from Ancient Peaks Website
Once understanding that the property contains five unique soil types: rocky alluvium, ancient seabed, granite rock, shale and volcanic you can now understand their “unique label” featuring the soil types. On the property they make white wines of Viognier, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Red wines produced include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Malbec and red blends. They even produce fermented mead, produced from honeybees. The estate is comprised of 14,000 acres and 900 acres are under vines.
For a complete background and detailed story on Ancient Peaks click on a previous story:
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2020 Ancient Peaks Cabernet Franc wine is dark and opulent on the eyes and with medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, blueberry and blackberry wafted into the senses beckoning and drawing one to partake in the first sip. On the palate, the fruits burst into a parade of flavor profiles, coupled with plum and secondary flavors of coffee and vanilla. The finish was expressive with grippy tannins and an intense structure, not typical of Cabernet Franc from the region. A real surprise and welcome treat!
The wine consists of 92% Cabernet Franc and 8% Merlot. Their limited-edition offering was hand selected from their finest vineyard rows and aged for 23 months in 50% new French oak. The price is $50/bottle and belongs in their Pearl Collection. The wine comes in at 14.9% alcohol and is extremely smooth.
This wine just made my annual list of Best Wines Tasted in the calendar year for 2025 as it had in 2024! This is truly an enjoyable and amazing wine.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Another light summertime meal when the temperature reaches close to 100 degrees. Paired this evening with mesquite chicken salad. Salad included shredded lettuce, chicken sauteed with mesquite spices, combination shredded cheese, minced purple onion, cut tomatoes and topped with multicolored tostada chips. Accompanied by chips and cheese. While not a typical food and wine pairing it was very good. The fruit from the wine, synchronized wonderfully with the tangy chicken. I always enjoy finding “new pairings” with wines as I remember the anonymous quote “Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you”. Dessert was watermelon pieces (not shown).
Sláinte,
Michael