2020 Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel, Paso Robles
92 Points, Vinous 90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
The 2020 Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel is a blend of 18 heritage clones of Zinfandel grown in the Templeton Gap. Enticing notes of dark cherries, mocha, and white pepper give way to flavors of figs, juicy ripe berries, and smoked meats. Medium firm in structure, this wine has a long and balanced finish.
Vinification
Thanks to some drastic heat spikes shortly after veraison, yields were down at the Old Schoolhouse Vineyard in 2020. As a result, we couldn’t ferment as many of the individual clones from our heritage block separately as in 2019. However, we did create 5 unique fermentations from the 18 clones of zinfandel, which were all fermented and aged separately. Most of the resulting wines made their way through malolactic fermentation in neutral French oak barriques, though about 30% of the blend aged in new French barrels and puncheons. In July 2021, as we assessed the blend, we opted to add some additional gallons of Dupratt Zinfandel from the three larger blocks of the Schoolhouse Vineyard to flesh out the final blend. Once complete, the 2020 Schoolhouse blend was returned to 30% new French and neutral French and Hungarian barrels to age until bottling in March of 2022.
Specs
Vineyard
Old Schoolhouse Vineyard
Templeton Gap District
Estate Grown
Varietal Composition: 100% Zinfandel
Appellation: Paso Robles, Templeton Gap District
Harvest Date: 9/29/20
Alcohol: 14.0%
TA: 6.8g/L
pH: 3.51
Production: 430 cases
2020 Peachy Canyon Vortex Zinfandel, Paso Robles
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
The Vortex has a dark crimson color and a gamey, spicy nose. Scents of blackberries and blueberries lead to a bright, elegant body with lush flavors of dark fruits and plum.
Vortex has always been a blend of some of the best barrels of Zinfandel from our cellar, and 2020 is no exception. This vintage sees every block of dry-farmed Zinfandel at Mustang Springs represented, along with a single, stunning puncheon of Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel. Portions of Jump Hill Syrah & Grenache, and Snow Petite Sirah were feathered into the hand-selected Zinfandel to create an intriguing blend of Zinfandel and Rhone Varieties. For the first time since at least 2017, Vortex is 100% Estate Grown which is why it has appeared back in the wine club shipment. Blended from a selection of the best barrels of Zinfandel throughout the cellar in June of 2021, this wine was aged for an additional 8 months in 40% new Hungarian and French oak Puncheons, with the remainder in French and American oak barrels. The final blend was bottled in March of 2022.
Peachy Canyon is a family-owned and operated winery in beautiful Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast; near Hearst Castle and Big Sur.
Founded by Doug and Nancy Beckett in 1988, Peachy Canyon has long been praised as a producer of award-winning California wines that exemplify respect for terroir and dedicated winemaking.
Zinfandel has long been Peachy Canyon’s flagship varietal—oftentimes with multiple vineyard designates in production. These red Zinfandels range from elegant and restrained to fruit-forward, each an exemplary call to its own terroir. With these exemplary Zins Peachy Canyon has been instrumental in establishing Paso Robles’ reputation as a key California wine region.
Although Zinfandels dominate the tasting menu, you will find Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Viognier and more available to sample, including a series of premium Bordeaux-style wines that highlight Paso Robles’ bucolic vineyard terrain. These wines are epitomized by Peachy’s Para Siempre, a top-tier Bordeaux blend based in Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and Ms Behave, a rich multi-award winning Malbec.
Peachy Canyon has been ranked in the top 100 wines in the world by Wine Spectator magazine, and its many wines have been ranked with 90-point-plus scores, often for multiple vintages.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Question to the vintner. Picked up the last offering ( Zin, can and Malbec) - one case, and loved ( yes past tense). I saw that both of these were aged in both French and Hungarian oak, and wanted to ask, with the Hungarian oak aspect, of the oak is predominant? Appreciate it
Got an email Wednesday, a bottle yesterday, and flew out today. This will be honest and brief. It’s good. Buy it.
Couple notes…
Mom: pretty tart on opening. Gotta nice sweet and sour thing going on. Maybe some hints of raspberry. Not so full body. Likes it.
Dad:good bouquet. (Do we even use bouquet anymore?) Fruitier than expected. Really tight but can tell it will open nicely. Not much aftertaste which is favorable.
Yours truly: Almost a cherry jolly rancher taste but is kinda thin, if thin is a thing. Clean finish. After about half hour in the glass, it seems juicier and makes my mouth water more…in a good way.
I was rushing to pack so didn’t get a second day, though I’m not sure if the bottle lasted the night. We were having some chicken stir fry and that wasn’t a great match but it was already planned. The wine holds up on its own and would do much better with steaks. All three of us liked it and we are hard to come into agreement.
Thanks for the opportunity and thanks for the new casemates glass
@losthighwayz I didn’t detect any vanilla in mine. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I don’t often pick up on subtle nuances like that. I’ll say if it was there, it was minimal.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Peachy Canyon Winery Mixed Zinfandels - $100 = 33.32%
I’m an old Midwesterner (66) . Zinfandel was my first wine love. What a happy day to receive a very fine Zin for this rattage. I think I’ve ratted with @jaybird before (good name, my first name is Jay). I guess Alice has our number. Unfortunately I’m in cold Detroit and not Guatemala City.
Unusual situation as, seeing the price, I bought a case before I posted this. Stone cold bargain.
Westside Paso Robles was my first California wine country visit. Utter novices still into Franzia box wines, we were. Just off of our honeymoon cruise in 1985, we drove up the coast from LA to San Francisco. Paso Robles was known for Zinfandel… White Zinfandel. But a few producers were catching on that, “Hey, this might make a good red wine.” That’s all I remember.
Here we are today, 2020 Peachy Canyon Vortex. Bottled barely 20 months ago. What a lovely wine. Thank you, Alice.
Aromas… Dense fruit and youthful. Toasty oak.
Palate… Polished, lucious, moderately dense with a welcome and forward accent of Petit Sirah and Syrah. Bramble in the best way, subtle hint of herbs (“thyme” in the tasting notes… that hits it). Baked berry pie. “Baked” not in the overripeness that some Zins suffer, just nicely concentrated. The herbal notes that I personally associate with Paso Robles Zins.
Would it surprise you that this wine echoes a 1991 Ridge Zinfandel Essence (Paso Robles fruit) that I luckily acquired a lot of 30 years ago and still have a couple of bottles of… maybe I will open one to compare. Underlying fruit, not the sweetness obviously.
This is a Zin lover’s Zin. Drinkable right now, right now. So well balanced, just-right oak, light-to-medium tannins, bright acidity that promises aging potential, gobs (if I may RP) of hedonistic fruit.
Enjoyed tonight with slightly creamy mushroom-wild rice soup (with 2 lbs of brown clamshells courtesy of my son’s employer Mycopia). Home run.
With westside neighbors like Dusi Ranch and Turley Paso Robles, is it any surprise that those [white] zinfandel vines have gotten 40 years older and some skilled winemakers have turned up the heat?
Bravo on this wine. Absolute buy if the price is right for you.
@baldwino0 thank you for the great review. I picked up a case of mixed reds from Peachy Canyon last month and it was a great weekday offering. The wine was aged in French oak. I noticed with this new round, the wines are aged in French, Hungarian and American oak. I love the “vanilla” French oak puts out, but just don’t like tasting oak in wine. With that, can you let me know how dominant or subtle the oak flavors are in what you reviewed? I know subjective, but would appreciate you sharing. Thank you.
@Leatherchair I am less bothered by oak in reds than, say, my pal @borisgoodenough who also commented here. That said, it’s there, but for me in good balance. The fruit comes through loud and clear. I did not think oak was in any way a dominant feature.
@baldwino0@Leatherchair For the record, I don’t mind a bit of oak on my Zins, preferably American. It’s when I’m picking splinters out of my tongue that it becomes objectionable.
@losthighwayz I did not taste vanilla, but it would have to be pretty forward for me to notice in the Vortex, because the fruit is so big [and see my mea culpa above]. I do occasionally run into reds with ridiculous oak. I’m remembering a Leonetti Cab from the 1990s.
@kaolis
Especially when it’s 50% more expensive at the 2 bottle price. Maybe I should start a “How much more are you paying for the smaller allotment” thread.
Enthusiast on the Vortex:
91 points. (not the above mentioned 90 for those of you splitting hairs this morning) Black plum juice, dried berries and licorice make for a concentrated showcase of darkness on the nose of this bottling, which is bolstered by 15% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah and 3% Grenache. The palate is thick with attention-grabbing stewed fruit, gingerbread and fruit-cake flavors. — Matt Kettmann 10/1/22
same publication Old Schoolhouse:
90 Points. Ripe strawberry aromas are lifted by white pepper and sage on the nose of this bottling. The palate is very straightforward, with red-fruit, baking-spice and game flavors. — Matt Kettmann 11/1/22
@kaolis My hairs to split would be to give the Vortex another point. I dislike score inflation as much as the next person, but I’d put this at 92. It’s that good.
I just opened a bottle of their Bailey zin from the last offer and boy was it delicious. I wish 4 or 6 were an option here. Well I suppose it technically is…but you get my drift.
@Bonechrusher@winecatlady@WineDavid49@rjquillin darn it sounds like we are never going to be able to compare the two bottles unless CM organizes a huge wine swap!
They have all our emails so….
@Bonechrusher@danidani12@rjquillin@ttboy23@winecatlady@Winedavid49
Not happy with the way the situation was resolved. I’m still stuck with 12 vortex. I’ve been a long time supporter of WW and CM but not ok with not making me whole again for your mistake. I ordered a mixed case and that’s what I bargained for (yes, I’m using common law contract law). It’s my hard earned money and a coupon for future purchases is not sitting well with me.
Same issue here…got a case of Old Schoolhouse and no Vortex! We are huge fans of Peachy Canyon! Very disappointed and hoping that they fix it and make it right…
I don’t think issuing a coupon is a proper resolution to this issue. I’ve had problems with five orders since Casemates began. The first three were resolved properly, but things seem to have gone downhill since then.
Not happy with the way the situation was resolved. I’m still stuck with 12 vortex. I’ve been a long time supporter of WW and CM but not ok with not making me whole again for your mistake. I ordered a mixed case and that’s what I bargained for (yes, I’m using common law contract law). It’s my hard earned money and a coupon for future purchases is not sitting well with me.
Is there anybody here who lives in the central New York area (Syracuse-Utica-Albany corridor) and received a full case of Vortex? I got a full case of Old Schoolhouse, and am willing to trade 6-for-6. Maybe we could meet at a Thruway stop halfway between our locations.
Well, I’m in semi south fl with a case of Old Schoolhouse. As stated in my rattage, it’s good and we’ll be happy with it, however if someone nearby has vortex and wants to swap a couple/few bottles, I’m willing to consider it. No promises after Christmas day though. Gifts will be given…no takebacks.
@csSRQ81 Hey! I live in SRQ, sorry, didn’t partake in this offer but if you’re ever interested in a split on another offer …contact me. Happy Holidays!
2020 Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel, Paso Robles
92 Points, Vinous
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Vinification
Specs
2020 Peachy Canyon Vortex Zinfandel, Paso Robles
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not all wines available on winery website, $564/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, Dec 26 - Wednesday, Dec 27
Peachy Canyon Winery Mixed Zinfandels
2 bottles for $49.99 $25/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2020 Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel
2020 Peachy Canyon Vortex Zinfandel
Question to the vintner. Picked up the last offering ( Zin, can and Malbec) - one case, and loved ( yes past tense). I saw that both of these were aged in both French and Hungarian oak, and wanted to ask, with the Hungarian oak aspect, of the oak is predominant? Appreciate it
Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel
Greetings from Guatemala City.
Got an email Wednesday, a bottle yesterday, and flew out today. This will be honest and brief. It’s good. Buy it.
Couple notes…
Mom: pretty tart on opening. Gotta nice sweet and sour thing going on. Maybe some hints of raspberry. Not so full body. Likes it.
Dad:good bouquet. (Do we even use bouquet anymore?) Fruitier than expected. Really tight but can tell it will open nicely. Not much aftertaste which is favorable.
Yours truly: Almost a cherry jolly rancher taste but is kinda thin, if thin is a thing. Clean finish. After about half hour in the glass, it seems juicier and makes my mouth water more…in a good way.
I was rushing to pack so didn’t get a second day, though I’m not sure if the bottle lasted the night. We were having some chicken stir fry and that wasn’t a great match but it was already planned. The wine holds up on its own and would do much better with steaks. All three of us liked it and we are hard to come into agreement.
Thanks for the opportunity and thanks for the new casemates glass
Edit…putting my money where my mouth is…
/giphy marvelous-green-krampus
@jaybird @jaybird love me some old school zin! Thanks for the great rattage.
I’m not a fan of detectable oak in reds. Does this have that vanilla taste from the oak
@losthighwayz I didn’t detect any vanilla in mine. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I don’t often pick up on subtle nuances like that. I’ll say if it was there, it was minimal.
@jaybird thank you!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Peachy Canyon Winery Mixed Zinfandels - $100 = 33.32%
2020 Peachy Canyon Zinfandel “Vortex”
Paso Robles, 15% Alcohol
I’m an old Midwesterner (66) . Zinfandel was my first wine love. What a happy day to receive a very fine Zin for this rattage. I think I’ve ratted with @jaybird before (good name, my first name is Jay). I guess Alice has our number. Unfortunately I’m in cold Detroit and not Guatemala City.
Unusual situation as, seeing the price, I bought a case before I posted this. Stone cold bargain.
Westside Paso Robles was my first California wine country visit. Utter novices still into Franzia box wines, we were. Just off of our honeymoon cruise in 1985, we drove up the coast from LA to San Francisco. Paso Robles was known for Zinfandel… White Zinfandel. But a few producers were catching on that, “Hey, this might make a good red wine.” That’s all I remember.
Here we are today, 2020 Peachy Canyon Vortex. Bottled barely 20 months ago. What a lovely wine. Thank you, Alice.
Aromas… Dense fruit and youthful. Toasty oak.
Palate… Polished, lucious, moderately dense with a welcome and forward accent of Petit Sirah and Syrah. Bramble in the best way, subtle hint of herbs (“thyme” in the tasting notes… that hits it). Baked berry pie. “Baked” not in the overripeness that some Zins suffer, just nicely concentrated. The herbal notes that I personally associate with Paso Robles Zins.
Would it surprise you that this wine echoes a 1991 Ridge Zinfandel Essence (Paso Robles fruit) that I luckily acquired a lot of 30 years ago and still have a couple of bottles of… maybe I will open one to compare. Underlying fruit, not the sweetness obviously.
This is a Zin lover’s Zin. Drinkable right now, right now. So well balanced, just-right oak, light-to-medium tannins, bright acidity that promises aging potential, gobs (if I may RP) of hedonistic fruit.
Enjoyed tonight with slightly creamy mushroom-wild rice soup (with 2 lbs of brown clamshells courtesy of my son’s employer Mycopia). Home run.
With westside neighbors like Dusi Ranch and Turley Paso Robles, is it any surprise that those [white] zinfandel vines have gotten 40 years older and some skilled winemakers have turned up the heat?
Bravo on this wine. Absolute buy if the price is right for you.
@baldwino0 A second case bought. I have friends.
@baldwino0 And luckily, I am one of your friends.
BTW, Alice, when do I get to Lab Rat? Why does my buddy @baldwino0 get to have all the fun?
@baldwino0 thank you for the great review. I picked up a case of mixed reds from Peachy Canyon last month and it was a great weekday offering. The wine was aged in French oak. I noticed with this new round, the wines are aged in French, Hungarian and American oak. I love the “vanilla” French oak puts out, but just don’t like tasting oak in wine. With that, can you let me know how dominant or subtle the oak flavors are in what you reviewed? I know subjective, but would appreciate you sharing. Thank you.
@Leatherchair I am less bothered by oak in reds than, say, my pal @borisgoodenough who also commented here. That said, it’s there, but for me in good balance. The fruit comes through loud and clear. I did not think oak was in any way a dominant feature.
@baldwino0 “Lab Rat Report ramble” … yep, that’s me!
@baldwino0 @borisgoodenough thank you for the reply/description/detail. Cheers
@baldwino0 @Leatherchair For the record, I don’t mind a bit of oak on my Zins, preferably American. It’s when I’m picking splinters out of my tongue that it becomes objectionable.
@baldwino0 love me some old school zin! Thanks for the great rattage.
I’m not a fan of detectable oak in reds. Does this have that vanilla taste from the oak
@losthighwayz I did not taste vanilla, but it would have to be pretty forward for me to notice in the Vortex, because the fruit is so big [and see my mea culpa above]. I do occasionally run into reds with ridiculous oak. I’m remembering a Leonetti Cab from the 1990s.
@baldwino0 @borisgoodenough very good!
2 or 12? how about 4 or 6 or 12?
@kaolis
Especially when it’s 50% more expensive at the 2 bottle price. Maybe I should start a “How much more are you paying for the smaller allotment” thread.
Enthusiast on the Vortex:
91 points. (not the above mentioned 90 for those of you splitting hairs this morning) Black plum juice, dried berries and licorice make for a concentrated showcase of darkness on the nose of this bottling, which is bolstered by 15% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah and 3% Grenache. The palate is thick with attention-grabbing stewed fruit, gingerbread and fruit-cake flavors. — Matt Kettmann 10/1/22
same publication Old Schoolhouse:
90 Points. Ripe strawberry aromas are lifted by white pepper and sage on the nose of this bottling. The palate is very straightforward, with red-fruit, baking-spice and game flavors. — Matt Kettmann 11/1/22
fwiw (once again not much)
@kaolis
Gingerbread and fruitcake? It’s Christmas in a bottle!
@kaolis My hairs to split would be to give the Vortex another point. I dislike score inflation as much as the next person, but I’d put this at 92. It’s that good.
I just opened a bottle of their Bailey zin from the last offer and boy was it delicious. I wish 4 or 6 were an option here. Well I suppose it technically is…but you get my drift.
@ern1 the Malbec is super too
@danidani12 @ern1 Haven’t had a ton but the cheapie Westside can be tasty
this one may be hard to resist
In for a case.
This is hard to resist. But in the holiday spirit I am Happy to share. I’m in San Francisco and willing to share a case.
Case for me:
/giphy frostbitten-lovely-frost
Anyone or 2 want to split a case Southern NH/Boston Area?
@netcommsyn Any chance you got a case of the Schoolhouse? I’d be willing to trade some Vortex!
They messed my order up! I received 12 bottles of the Vortex. Hardly a MIXED case…
@winecatlady Same thing happened here. I wonder if some people received a full case of Old School House.
@winecatlady same here
@winecatlady Yes, I got a case of old School House
@Bonechrusher @winecatlady @WineDavid49 @rjquillin darn it sounds like we are never going to be able to compare the two bottles unless CM organizes a huge wine swap!
They have all our emails so….
@Bonechrusher @rjquillin @ttboy23 @winecatlady @Winedavid49 same! I’m so bummed
@winecatlady unacceptable imo. I would not bought one case of the exact same wine
There seem to be some quality control issues going on.
First the Roman Reserve fiasco now this. I emailed customer support to either send me the correct wine or credit my card for the six wrong bottles
@Bonechrusher @rjquillin @ttboy23 @winecatlady @Winedavid49 second issue I’ve encountered the past few weeks
I emailed customer service to either credit my card or send me what I paid for. I received 12 vortex smh
@Bonechrusher @losthighwayz @rjquillin @ttboy23 @winecatlady
so this is a bummer. looks like a warehouse error. let me sort it out. apologies all around.
@winecatlady I received a whole case of Old Schoolhouse. Not happy about this!
@nicholfd @winecatlady sure sorry about that.
@Bonechrusher @danidani12 @rjquillin @ttboy23 @winecatlady @Winedavid49
Not happy with the way the situation was resolved. I’m still stuck with 12 vortex. I’ve been a long time supporter of WW and CM but not ok with not making me whole again for your mistake. I ordered a mixed case and that’s what I bargained for (yes, I’m using common law contract law). It’s my hard earned money and a coupon for future purchases is not sitting well with me.
Same issue here…got a case of Old Schoolhouse and no Vortex! We are huge fans of Peachy Canyon! Very disappointed and hoping that they fix it and make it right…
I order the mixed case and received all Old School. No vortex. Looks like I’m not the only one. Disappointed to say the least!
Just picked mine up. 12 old schoolhouse here.
@jaybird So what’s the play? Submit a ticket? Wait for @Winedavid49 to make a general announcement?
@jaybird working on it. This one is a bit tricky.
@jaybird @Winedavid49 locate your closest ‘mate who has the Vortex and swap
Seems worthy of coal in
of the warehouse folk, but I imaging they are already mired in 
Mine is also screwed up. All Old Schoolhouse. No Vortex.
I don’t think issuing a coupon is a proper resolution to this issue. I’ve had problems with five orders since Casemates began. The first three were resolved properly, but things seem to have gone downhill since then.
I guess I’ll open up the trading offers:
Have Vortex. Want Schoolhouse. Boston Area.
Not happy with the way the situation was resolved. I’m still stuck with 12 vortex. I’ve been a long time supporter of WW and CM but not ok with not making me whole again for your mistake. I ordered a mixed case and that’s what I bargained for (yes, I’m using common law contract law). It’s my hard earned money and a coupon for future purchases is not sitting well with me.
@losthighwayz I found your support case and responded to you directly.
Is there anybody here who lives in the central New York area (Syracuse-Utica-Albany corridor) and received a full case of Vortex? I got a full case of Old Schoolhouse, and am willing to trade 6-for-6. Maybe we could meet at a Thruway stop halfway between our locations.
Sooooo, what is the resolution? I haven’t received any emails or notes.
@jaybird If you haven’t seen that email, please check your spam folder.
@Thumperchick yep, there it is. thanks
Well, I’m in semi south fl with a case of Old Schoolhouse. As stated in my rattage, it’s good and we’ll be happy with it, however if someone nearby has vortex and wants to swap a couple/few bottles, I’m willing to consider it. No promises after Christmas day though. Gifts will be given…no takebacks.
Melbourne to West Palm Beach area
Anyone near Sarasota with Vortex? I received all Old Schoolhouse. Would love to trade out 6 if you received all Vortex.
@csSRQ81 Hey! I live in SRQ, sorry, didn’t partake in this offer but if you’re ever interested in a split on another offer …contact me. Happy Holidays!