2022 Ancient Peaks Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 6pk 6x750ml

Ancient Peaks sits at the southern edge of Paso Robles on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch, first planted to vines by Franciscan missionaries in 1774. The estate Margarita Vineyard was later replanted by the Robert Mondavi family, bringing Napa pedigree to Paso's calcareous soils. Since 2005, the family-owned winery has specialized in estate Cabernet Sauvignon from sustainably farmed fruit.

Quarry is the winery's new flagship Cabernet, drawn from the ranch's most promising blocks. Tight vine spacing and premium clones root into Paso's ancient sea bed soils—Wine & Spirits called Oyster Ridge "one of the most calcareous chunks of earth in California." That mineral backbone delivers the fine structure and texture Napa Cab drinkers recognize, at a fraction of the cost. The Quarry section runs slightly warmer than the rest of the vineyard, bringing riper fruit and deeper concentration.

Fruit was cold-soaked for 48 hours before fermentation, then aged 18 months in French and American oak, 35% new French. Founding Winemaker Mike Sinor's guiding principle—"greatness is found on the edge of ripeness"—shows in the balance: full ripeness without losing the spine. Small complements of Bordeaux varieties round out the mouthfeel.

The glass delivers supple, polished texture with vivid layers of cherry, boysenberry, blackberry and tobacco. Aromas of red currant, plum, black olive and anise open to vanilla cream, coffee and cinnamon on the finish, with fresh acidity and chalky tannins holding it all together. This is Cabernet with the depth and structure Napa bottles charge $60–$80 for, from a producer the Mondavi family trusted with their vines.