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Monday, August 5, 2013

Ancestry dot WIne


I don’t know my ancestor’s that well but I can bet they never drank wine like this in the Old Country. Halter Ranch is one of my favorite wineries in Paso Robles creating solid Cabernet blends and Syrah, Viognier, Zinfandel and the like - a broad portfolio of very good and dependable wines. But there’s nothing old in style about their flagship 2010 Ancestor Estate Reserve a blending of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petit Verdot, and 26% Malbec. At just 900 cases made, this is one of those wines which proves that Paso is best at making Bordeaux varieties. The Ancestor has great notes of cedar, blackberry, dark cherry, cinnamon and raspberry, a lush, rich wine which always calls for a 2nd bottle. It is seamless with its tannins, use of oak, pop of fruit and its smooth finish. True, at more than 15% alcohol it’s a hefty boy, (and I’m not a fan, generally, of high alcohol wines), but they get it right here, a mix of all the elements which make this a very wonderful wine – perfect to linger over with a freshly grilled steak. The aging of 18 months in half new and half older oak barrels serves this wine well, without making it all about wood, because the fruit is clean and evident. Drinking the Ancestor will make you feel young: if not, then drink more until you do feel young. HALTER RANCH

ORIGIN: Paso Robles, California
PRICE: $50 / 750/ml
ALCOHOL: 15.5%
BOOZEHOUNDZ SCORE:  91 POINTS

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