Product Overview
Winery's Notes:
"The 2020 Renegade comes from our estate Margarita Vineyard on the historic Santa Margarita Ranch. From missionaries to gunslingers, roughriders to outlaws, a colorful cast of characters has traversed the ranch’s rugged terrain since the 18th century. In that spirit, we have made an intensely flavored blend that pushes the envelope and resists conformity, adding an adventurous twist to our family of wines. Defiantly bold and daringly elegant—this is Renegade.
The winemaking vision of Renegade is to craft a bold Syrah-driven wine with the structure and finesse provided by classic Bordeaux blending varieties. A majority of the Syrah was aged in barrels with medium-plus toasting to accentuate the varietal’s savory, smoky nuances. The Bordeaux varieties were matured in medium-toast barrels for pure fruit expression. In the final blend, Syrah sets the tone with deep black fruit and savory nuances. The Petit Verdot intensifies the overall color, nuance and tannin profile, while the Malbec brings juiciness to the mouthfeel. The result is a uniquely styled blend and a true Ancient Peaks original.
The 2020 Renegade presents heady aromas of dark fruits, blackberry cobbler, toasty oak and allspice. The palate unfolds with dense, mouthfilling flavors of fresh wildberry, boysenberry and blueberry, expanding into essences of roast coffee, peppery spice, woodsmoke and savory game. Gravelly tannins bring length and structure to a robust, juicy finish.
The bold, savory character of the 2020 Renegade is an excellent match for braised short ribs, lamb shank cassoulet, beef stew, smoked meats and truffle mushroom pasta."
Varietal Composition: 67% Syrah, 27% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec
Appellation: Santa Margarita Ranch, Paso Robles AVA
Farming Practices: SIP-Certified Sustainable
Aging: 20 months in 40% French and 60% American oak barrels, 20% new
90 Points - Vinous
"The 2020 Renegade lifts from the glass with a smoky mix of blackberries, sage and wet stone. This is energetic with tart wild berry fruits and mineral tones accelerated by brisk acidity. While I'd prefer more depth, this impresses with its energy, tapering off lightly tannic. Wild strawberry hints slowly fade. The Renegade is a blend of 67% Syrah, 27% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec." -EG, Mar/2023
89 Points - Wine Enthusiast
"Smoked dark fruit, oak spice and an iron-driven minerality show on the nose of this blend of 67% Syrah, 27% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec. The palate of the wine is smoky, with charred fruit flavors." -MK, 11/1/23
88 Points - Wine Spectator
"Precise and a bit tightly wound at the moment, with appealing blackberry, licorice and savory pepper flavors that finish with medium-grained tannins. Syrah, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028. 7,274 cases made." -TF, 10/15/23
