A TALE OF TWO MERLOTS
At Ancient Peaks, we believe that the only thing better than Merlot is two Merlots. Indeed, even when Merlot fell out of favor for an extended period in the United States, we decided to double down on this iconic Bordeaux variety.
The two Merlots in question are the Peaks Merlot and the Pearl Merlot.
Let’s break it down to discover what’s so great about Merlot, and how these two bottlings each make a statement all their own.
Merlot’s Fall & Rise
Merlot is a noble grape of Bordeaux, where it has been grown since the 18th century, and where it particularly excels in Bordeaux’s Right Bank area. Here, the epic wines of Pomerol, for example, are predominantly composed of Merlot.
Beginning in the 1980s, Merlot became a consumer favorite in the U.S., prized for its rich, velvety and distinctive varietal character. However, a year before we launched Ancient Peaks in 2005, the hit movie “Sideways” dealt a sizeable blow to the popularity of Merlot. It’s a lot to explain, so just Google it—let’s just say that Merlot unjustly became uncool overnight. It didn’t help that the grape had become overplanted in unsuitable regions, resulting in a wave of substandard Merlots.
But rather than shy away from this classic Bordeaux variety, we leaned into it because it excels at our estate Margarita Vineyard. We weren’t going to let a little trend get in the way of a great wine.
Ever since, Merlot has been a proud mainstay in our family of wines, with a huge following by those in the know. Better yet, the grape’s reputation has recovered, and Merlot has regained the respect it deserves.
Meet The Original
With the original Peaks Merlot mainstay bottling, our aim is to capture the signature velvety fruit character of Merlot while showcasing the cooler climate nuances and structure inherent to Margarita Vineyard.
Here, ancient seabed soils combine with a long growing season to yield a Merlot with silky fruit flavors and luscious textures, resulting in what has become one of the Paso Robles region’s most notable Merlots.
The 2022 Peaks Merlot is accessible and widely available, yet it maintains a quality and varietal expression that could only come from Margarita Vineyard. This Merlot pairs great with mid-week dinners, holiday parties and more! It’s a great “grab and go” wine that is food friendly and approachable for any wine drinker.
A True Pearl
Which brings us to our Pearl Merlot which is one of our Pearl Collection wines. Whereas our Peaks Merlot is built for everyday enjoyment, our Pearl Merlot is small production with an intense amount of hands-on care. It’s crafted for special meals and moments in mind.
Indeed, the current release 2020 Merlot Pearl Collection is a special winemaker’s selection blended from the 13 best barrels of the vintage. We carefully cultivated the highest-quality vineyard rows for small-lot production, handpicked at harvest and then aged the wine for an extended period in the finest French oak barrels.
The result is a Merlot of extraordinary density and dimension that, while delicious now, will evolve favorably in the bottle for years to come. Think of it as the “best of the best” of Margarita Vineyard, which is what our ultra-limited Pearl Collection wines are all about. The 2020 Pearl Merlot pairs great when you have dinner with the boss, intimate family gatherings, and impressing your great uncle who know way to much about wine! It’s a bottle that impresses and begs to be savored.
In Conclusion
So, there you have it—a tale of two Merlots. You may be thinking these two would compete against each other, but they are specially crafted to fit different needs and tastes. Try one, or better yet, both (Peaks Merlot | Pearl Merlot). Because when you drink a good Merlot, you’re on the right side of history!