Halter Ranch, Ancestor Estate Reserve, Paso Robles

This 9 year old is just hitting its stride. If you have cellared this well, as we had, you will be rewarded by beautiful dark colors with no signs of aging. I would strongly urge you to plan ahead and decant at least an hour ahead of time. It has really developed during the course of our meal. On the nose a lot of dark fruit and herbs. The same continues but has a definite cola flavor on the long …

2015 vintage

This bottle was not nearly as good as the one we rated over 1-1/2 years ago. It's quite juicy with hardly any layers of flavor, just mostly sweetness. While the wine was very smooth drinking, and nothing offensive, there was no backbone - borderline flabby. That said, the juicy sweetness of this wine did play well with our spicy brisket tacos.

2014 vintage

Paso has arrived. This wine was amazing and I would put this up against most Napa red blends of the same vintage. We loved this with a very big and fruit forward profile it was perfect for the filets that we had at the 1895 in Pinehurst. This wine was in a great place and was selected for our tenth Friendsversary dinner celebration. Drink now or let rest for up to another 5 years.

2014 vintage

rough when first opened. Delightful after 24 hours. complex, acid, tannin, fruit. cocktail mode or with food.

2015 vintage

This wine was perfection. Beautiful deep color, smooth finish! It was a pleasure to drink.

2014 vintage

This bottle was highly enjoyable. Big juicy and brambly black and blue fruit that is mostly balanced with seamless flavors of cedar, black pepper and forest notes. The finish is lingering with medium tannins. While there is no need to drink this soon, it will certainly be enjoyable if you do.

2014 vintage

First of two Paso red blends opened from 2014 (other was Denner’s Mother of Exiles). Purple core with garnet rim. Pronounced nose of blueberry jam and balsamic. Sweetish dark blue fruit on the palate. The Malbec component is quite dominant. Almost too extracted but the acid and tannic underlay keep it drinkable. Medium finish with good concentration. Not a complex wine. Good cocktail wine with good friends.

2014 vintage

Cab blend with a little bit of bite from malbec

2015 vintage

Our flagship wine Ancestor is our Bordeaux-style reserve blend, and an homage to the Ancestor Tree, the largest Coast Live Oak on record. Carefully selected barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot were blended for this cuvée which offers aromas of berry compote and baking spices. Rich and powerful on the palate, this wine has flavors of blackberry, cassis and graphite. Pair with hearty meats such as beef, lamb and game. Drink now or cellar 15 to 20 years.

2015 vintage

Similar to earlier notes. Paso Robles, Calif., Bordeaux blend 2014 Halter Ranch Ancestor ($29 in 2016). 60% Cabernet, 32 Malbec, 18 Petit Verdot. Dark garnet, brick edges; big berry nose; herbaceous, prunes, wood; mid-body; rounding out; softening tannins; long fruity slight hot (14.6 alc.) finish. 16.5 UC Davis scale; 91 other scales.

2014 vintage

Outstanding!

2014 vintage

Not sure if it was from the 37% Petit Verdot, but the wine had a pretty strong bell pepper aroma on the nose. Didn’t taste like a predominately Cabernet Sauvignon wine to me. Have two bottles left so will wait a while to open the next one and see where it is at.

2015 vintage

≈40 min decant into a plastic, cylindrical pitcher which was then closed; Only the BAREST hint of sediment was noted “60% C.S., 22% Malbec, & 18% P.V. destemmed & fermented in closed top fermentors, with delestage daily for the first few days of fermentation, followed by open pump-overs 2-3x/day for an ave of 16 days. Aged 18 mos in FR oak barrels (60% new); 14.6% ABV, 6.4 g/L T.A., & 3.74 pH; 2,000 cases bottled 4/25/16.” N: ATTRACTIVELY ripe berries …

2014 vintage

Decanted for an hour. Well integrated and in balance right now, but you’ll definitely know it’s got a good hit of Petit Verdot. Still some acid, and very smooth tannins. Drink now.

2015 vintage

Paso Robles, Calif., Bordeaux blend 2014 Halter Ranch Ancestor ($29 in 2016). 60% Cabernet, 32 Malbec, 18 Petit Verdot. Dark purple; ripe grape, herbaceous, cassis nose; mid-body to big; grapey; long chewy hot (14.8 alc.) berry finish. w/BBQ, ribs. 16 UC Davis scale, 90 other scales.

2014 vintage

With alyssa and jSon

2009 vintage

My rating may appear to be a bit high, but this was the nicest bottle of wine I've had all year. Silky with a soft finish. A great food wine!

2015 vintage

Solid blend. Heavy with petite verdot

2015 vintage

Outstanding bottle after decanting for an hour. This paired up perfectly with our filet mignon, bakded potatoe and salad... Kevin hit this one on the head...

2014 vintage

The 28% Cabernet franc provides smoothness; the 24% malbec gives it inky dark color and rich tannin; the 48% Cabernet sauvignon gives it flavor and bouquet and makes it worth drinking. This is a superb blend

2006 vintage

Has improved with a little age. Blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Malbec, 18% Petit Verdot. Mid-dark garnet, brick edges; light prune, peppery, Cabernet and wood nose; mid-big body; rounding out; good fruit and flavor; long semi-chewy finish.

2014 vintage

Wonderful!

2014 vintage

Powerhouse. Big, bold Paso flavors. Take it for a ride.

2014 vintage

PNP. Deep purplish color. Olives, cherry, cedar and cranberry on the nose. Very smooth palate with nice acidity. Soft, rounded tannins on medium finish. Good overall balance.

2014 vintage

Delish, dark plum, not dry

2014 vintage

Young, try again in a few years

2014 vintage

Blind Tasting of Paso Robles Red Blends : Paso red blends blind tasting- ranked 4 of 6. Black ruby color. Alluring aromas- melted stone, tapenade, nutmeg and blackcurrant. Rich but elegant on the palate- showing notes of red cherry with nice purity, tea leaf, spices and cedar. Full bodied, with grippy broad tannins, medium acid, and good fruit purity on the finish. Good depth and length on the finish. Nicely done.

2014 vintage

Sparky Celebrates his "Double Nickel"; 1/16/2017-1/18/2017 (Paso Robles, California) : This is a cranked up version of the house Cabernet with 18% Petit Verdot. It adds much more tannins and structure. This will mature nicely. There's blueberry and mocha in abundance with a medium plus toasty finish. Comes off as a bit aggressive at this age, which is understandable and warranted.

2014 vintage

Dark garnet; ripe grape, berry nose; American oak undertones; bigger style; long chewy finish; a little hot (14.6 alc.)

2014 vintage

loved it

2009 vintage

Pop and pour at a steak restaurant with a corkage fee but no decanters. The 2012 Ancestor Estate Reserve from Halter Ranch contains 30% Petit Verdot, 29% Malbec, 29% Syrah, and 12% Cab Sauv. This wine has a surprisingly muted bouquet, with just a hint of ripe black fruit and garrigue. Even after 2 full hours the nose was still extremely subdued. The flavor profile, however, is far more remarkable. Lush black fruit on the attack is followed by a …

2009 vintage

Jeff's party. Very dark, inky 24% Malbec, no wonder! Wine had been open for 7 hours and still a tannic monster, but fruit starting to show through, blackberry and plums, with citrus notes on the long finish.

2006 vintage

Gorgeous wine with lots of new world fruit for sure, but still very well balanced and definitely not over the top.

2006 vintage

27th Annual Central Coast Wine Classic (Avila Beach Golf Resort) : Great color. Franc nose, a moster wine, great big tannins.

2006 vintage

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Halter Ranch, Ancestor Estate Reserve, Paso Robles

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