2018 Halter Ranch Ancestor Reserve

About 2018 Halter Ranch Ancestor Reserve:

Winery’s flagship wine, Ancestor, is the Bordeaux-style reserve blend, and an homage to the Ancestor Tree, the largest Coast Live Oak tree on record. Carefully selected barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot were blended for this cuvee which offers aromas of berry compote and baking spices.

Tasting Notes:

Aromas of berry compote and baking spices. Rich and powerful on the palate, this wine has flavors of blackberry, cassis and graphite.

Barrel Selection:

Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new oak

Growing Notes:

The flagship wine at Halter Ranch, Ancestor is a Bordeaux style red blend from the Estate vineyards on the West Side of Paso Robles that are farmed sustainably. The entire ranch is SIP certified (Sustainability in Practice) and the quality of the wines gets a boost from the care and concern that go into production here.

Harvest Dates: Cabernet Sauvignon-Block 7: 9/28/2018; Block 61: 10/3/2018; Malbec-Block 53: 9/17/2018; Petit Verdot-Block 49: 10/14/2018

Winemaking Notes:

Carefully selected barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot were blended for this cuvee. In the Ancestor red blend, they have always found a wine with great accessibility that leaves an impression with classic Paso Robles character of fruit meeting up with a balanced structure that makes for pleasant drinking.

Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 9% Petit Verdot

Destemmed and fermented in closed top fermentors, with delestage daily for the first few days of fermentation followed by open pump-overs two to three times daily for an average of 16 days

About The Winery:

Set along the westernmost boundaries of Paso Robles, California, surrounded by the wild, and wide-open Santa Lucia Mountain Range of the Central Coast, Halter Ranch is a 2,700-acre organic nature estate dedicated to land, art, and legendary terroir-driven wine made with the finest organic grapes. Envisioned by Swiss entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world-leading land conservationist, Hansjörg Wyss, the estate is an homage to his mother, Alice Halter, and a haven for the natural world to flourish and deliver exceptional, timeless wines.

The organic estate vineyard was initiated in 1996 and has since been expanded to its present 200 acres. Twenty grape varieties are planted on the steepest, most south-facing slopes on the property at an elevation reaching 1,950 feet and providing excellent sun exposure. The emphasis on quality in the vineyard is complemented by a commitment to environmentally responsible grape-growing practices. In July of 2023, all 200 acres of grapes were certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers. Additionally, planting on only a small portion of the property’s acreage preserves a diverse environment, mitigating the effects of a monoculture. Only 200 acres of Halter Ranch’s 2,700 acres are dedicated to farming and structures with the remainder left to natural landscape, including oak woodland and wildlife corridors.

MEET PROPRIETOR HANSJÖRG WYSS

Climbing and hiking the Rocky Mountains as a young man, Hansjörg Wyss developed a lifelong love for America’s open lands and a passion for discovery and innovation. After a successful career in life-saving medical science, Mr. Wyss created the Wyss Foundation in 1998 to help ensure that the iconic Western landscapes that inspired him are protected for everyone to experience and explore. Today, the Wyss Foundation’s philanthropy supports projects in areas from conservation and education to economic opportunity and social justice. Each philanthropic investment seeks to encourage new ideas and new solutions that expand the reach of human possibility and compassion.