The bouquet of this dark garnet colored wine opens with rich aromas of black cherries, accompanied by the subtle, earthy scent of dried wildflowers. There’s a savory hint of pancetta weaving through the profile, enhanced by light coffee notes and the fresh mineral essence of wet stone. On the palate, the wine unfolds with complex layers of flavor. The initial impression is one of herbal sage, followed by the deep, luscious tastes of black cherry, ripe blackberry, and black currant. The distinct note of tar lends to a rustic, yet intriguing finish.
Vinification
It was with considerable excitement that Snow Zinfandel re-appears in our single vineyard lineup. Since the previous iteration of this wine in 2015 Snow Vineyard has been ripped and replanted. The old Snow Zinfandel plants were dying and that meant time for rejuvenation. After several years fallow, Jake Beckett replanted with Primitivo, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon. 2022 marks the first vintage in which we harvested enough Primitivo to create a single vineyard bottling, and we think it quickly turn into a fan favorite. Grapes were hand-picked and gently de-stemmed prior to native fermentation in tank. Once dry, the wines were pressed and carefully racked into a combination of French and American oak barrels and Hungarian Oak puncheons. After malolactic fermentation was completed, individual barrels were picked to make up the resulting 250 case blend, which received an additional 9 months gestation prior to filtration and bottling in May of 2024.
Specs
Varietal Composition: 100% Primitivo
Vineyards: 100% Snow Vineyard
Harvest Date: 8/26/22
Alcohol: 14.7%
pH: 3.25
TA: 7.6 g/L
RS: .1%
2022 Peachy Canyon Willow Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Medium garnet is apparently the color of gems from Willow Creek. Positively reeking of the chalky, decomposing limestone soils that make the AVA, this Zinfandel wafts pumpkin pie spice, Barbados Rum, tobacco, and bright red cherries in any direction it can. Slight hints of wintergreen and anise add to a second, herbal dimension to the aromatics. A mouthfeel of grainy tannins gives way to red currants, brown sugar, and blueberry flavors. The supporting cast gets the honors, though, as lemon-curd, cola, creme brûlée, and cassis make way for a lengthy, willow-creek-y finish.
Vinification
One vintage removed from the exciting return of Willow to our Single Vineyard lineup, the 2022 rendition is 100% Zinfandel from the Willow Creek District. Three separate clones of Zinfandel are organically farmed in three culturally distinct blocks at Thibido Vineyard. All of the zinfandel fruit from these three blocks were picked over the course of three days as August turned into September of 2022. The excessive heat during this time allowed these grapes to ripen and really show off some intense fruit characteristics. All the grapes in these three lots were carefully sorted and gently de-stemmed before being natively fermented in bins. After 19-21 days of skin contact, these lots were pressed, settled, and aged separately in a combination of French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels and puncheons - 20% of which was new wood. Upon completion of secondary fermentation, these lots were racked and blended together, before being barreled back down to 30% new French oak barrels and 20% once-used Hungarian oak barrels. These barrels were emptied once more in March of 2024, just prior to bottling.
Specs
Varietal Composition: 100% Zinfandel
Vineyards: 100% Thibido Vineyard
Harvest Date: 8/29/22 - 9/2/22
Alcohol: 14.8%
pH: 3.64
TA: 6.3 g/L
RS: .1%
2022 Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
The nose of this medium ruby Zinfandel offers an inviting medley of aromas, starting with sweet strawberry and ripe Bing cherry, complemented by the zesty hint of orange peel. Rich undertones of baker’s chocolate add depth and a touch of indulgence. The palate is bright and lively, dominated by flavors of vibrant cherry. Notes of pie crust add a pastry-like quality, while hints of blood orange introduce a citrusy tang. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg provide warmth and complexity, resulting in a lush and spicy finish that lingers beautifully.
Vinification
2022 was a peak drought year. Our yields were dangerously low in some blocks already, as an intense heat wave hit during the onset of harvest. One of the most obviously affected blocks across all of our vineyards was the Heritage Zinfandel block at Old Schoolhouse Vineyard. This makes sense as the soil at our Templeton Gap site tends more toward alluvial sand than the clay loam we find at most of the other sites we farm, meaning the capacity of the soil to hold onto water for the vines is lower there than other sites. This lightened the crop further, meaning separate fermentation of 18 clones would not be possible in 2022. We were forced to pivot to six fermentations, with clones combined, more or less, along county lines. The resulting wines were kept separate through malolactic fermentation, and our favorite barrels and puncheons of the six fermentations were blended in August of 2023 to create the final product. This blend congealed for 9 more months in a combination of used French and Hungarian barrels before bottling in May of 2024.
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, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, 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
It’s been busy few days. I’ll check in tomorrow with a few more details as I am almost asleep because I forgot this was dropping tonight.
The answer you are looking for is, “yes!” Just buy it. It is that good.
I’ll see you guys sometime tomorrow.
Edit, I’m referring to Willow. I did not realize this was an assorted pack. Funny enough, I was able to rat the schoolhouse bottle I think last year or the year before and it was a smashing treat as well so much so that we ordered a case then. That was the time there was a mix-up where everyone got a full case instead of an assortment. We ended up with a full case of schoolhouse and were very very pleased.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Peachy Canyon Zinfandels & Primitivo - $80 = 26.66%
WE, Snow: 92 points. Boysenberry, cinnamon, nutmeg and loam introduce the nose to this well-balanced ZInfandel. The palate is earthy with hints of cocoa and fennel that add nuance to the baked black fruit core. — Matt Kettmann 12/24
WE, Old Schoolhouse. 91 points. Dark black cherry, caramel and mocha aromas show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is quite dry, pairing black pepper and thyme with strawberry and blackberry flavors. — Matt Kettmann 12/24
WE, Willow. 91 points. An earthy-driven Zinfandel, this bottling offers turned soil and light sage aromas on the nose that smell like a drive through Paso Robles in the summer sun. Rich red fruit and cinnamon spice come through on the palate alongside those earthy sage tones. — Matt Kettmann 12/24
Jeb Dunnuck, Willow. 89 points. The 2022 Zinfandel Willow is also all varietal and comes from the Thibido Vineyard in Paso Robles. Red and black plums, black pepper, and sappy herb notes all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a focused, firmer mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a good finish. It’s another unique, balanced, rock-solid Zinfandel from this estate with tons to love. JD 8/24
Rahhtaage For You!
when I opened the box and saw Peachy Canyon I got a little shiver and maybe a little weepy. Back in the Stone Age, around 1999 or 2000, before I got in to the wine biz, I was in the telecom field and traveled often to SLO (building the cell towers that now allow us to do our Rattage from anywhere) and I used to hit wine country, and Peachy Canyon was a favorite. I’d bring home bottles of their zin. A bottle broke in my suitcase once on the way home for Thanksgiving. My mother was horrified.
Now, the wine… I got “Snow”. Labeled as Primitivo. I loved this wine, and not just for the nostalgia. It was soft but not too soft, with still a good pop of acid at the end. Loads of berries but nothing really distinct, and that was ok. It was like the mixed berry jam my granny used to make at the end of the summer with odd bits of this and that. It was a little spicy but more in just like the whiff you get of a spice cabinet, again not specific but pleasant. It was rich but not overpowering, with an easy finish- I could see this easily sat next to ham and sweet potato casserole. Not as fancy as a Pinot, but not as heavy as a big 15+% Zin. I wouldn’t call it elegant, either, but also not rustic - it is more polished than a bigger Zin, with a little earthiness but nothing that shoves the berries and spice out of the way. The balance is very food friendly. I had it with a bowl of chili that the neighbor walked over, and it was a good balance to that. I may be biased because of the nostalgia, but I am also very partial to wines of this “weight” - heavier than Pinot but only just slightly, with a good balance of fruit and acidity, that doesn’t overpower my food or my palate. I really like this wine and thanks Casemates, Terry, David et al for sending me on this lovely lovely walk down memory lane. sniff
We opened this bottle of Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel and are really happy we got a chance to rat such a tasty wine.
Pours a dark ruby (but not inky if that makes any sense) and has great legs on the glass. There’s not an explosion of aroma on the nose but rather a gentle warmth that I couldn’t place. I got some great black pepper and it really opened up to loads of blackberry, then some light cocoa and maybe some hints of baking spice. Nice acidity with some tannins (not enough to really dig in) made for a solid mouthfeel.
This bottle was great as a solo slow sipper and I’d love to have some with a steak or lamb. One of the best bottles we’ve ratted. Gotta check my budget and capacity because I’d love some more of this.
2022 Peachy Canyon Snow Primitivo, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Vinification
Specs
2022 Peachy Canyon Willow Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Vinification
Specs
2022 Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
Vinification
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not all wines for sale on winery website, $576/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, 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
Monday, Dec 8 - Tuesday, Dec 9
Peachy Canyon Zinfandels & Primitivo
3 bottles for $74.99 $25/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $219.99 $18.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2022 Peachy Canyon Snow Primitivo
2022 Peachy Canyon Willow Zinfandel
2022 Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel
Labrat Checking In
It’s been busy few days. I’ll check in tomorrow with a few more details as I am almost asleep because I forgot this was dropping tonight.
The answer you are looking for is, “yes!” Just buy it. It is that good.
I’ll see you guys sometime tomorrow.
Edit, I’m referring to Willow. I did not realize this was an assorted pack. Funny enough, I was able to rat the schoolhouse bottle I think last year or the year before and it was a smashing treat as well so much so that we ordered a case then. That was the time there was a mix-up where everyone got a full case instead of an assortment. We ended up with a full case of schoolhouse and were very very pleased.
Varietal Composition: 100% Zinfandel
Vineyards: 100% Thibido Vineyard?
Harvest Date: 8/29/22 - 9/2/22
@ttboy23 Willow Creek District, vineyard is Thibido
@kaolis
@ttboy23
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Peachy Canyon Zinfandels & Primitivo - $80 = 26.66%
WE, Snow: 92 points. Boysenberry, cinnamon, nutmeg and loam introduce the nose to this well-balanced ZInfandel. The palate is earthy with hints of cocoa and fennel that add nuance to the baked black fruit core. — Matt Kettmann 12/24
WE, Old Schoolhouse. 91 points. Dark black cherry, caramel and mocha aromas show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is quite dry, pairing black pepper and thyme with strawberry and blackberry flavors. — Matt Kettmann 12/24
WE, Willow. 91 points. An earthy-driven Zinfandel, this bottling offers turned soil and light sage aromas on the nose that smell like a drive through Paso Robles in the summer sun. Rich red fruit and cinnamon spice come through on the palate alongside those earthy sage tones. — Matt Kettmann 12/24
Jeb Dunnuck, Willow. 89 points. The 2022 Zinfandel Willow is also all varietal and comes from the Thibido Vineyard in Paso Robles. Red and black plums, black pepper, and sappy herb notes all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a focused, firmer mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a good finish. It’s another unique, balanced, rock-solid Zinfandel from this estate with tons to love. JD 8/24
fwiw
Rahhtaage For You!
when I opened the box and saw Peachy Canyon I got a little shiver and maybe a little weepy. Back in the Stone Age, around 1999 or 2000, before I got in to the wine biz, I was in the telecom field and traveled often to SLO (building the cell towers that now allow us to do our Rattage from anywhere) and I used to hit wine country, and Peachy Canyon was a favorite. I’d bring home bottles of their zin. A bottle broke in my suitcase once on the way home for Thanksgiving. My mother was horrified.
Now, the wine… I got “Snow”. Labeled as Primitivo. I loved this wine, and not just for the nostalgia. It was soft but not too soft, with still a good pop of acid at the end. Loads of berries but nothing really distinct, and that was ok. It was like the mixed berry jam my granny used to make at the end of the summer with odd bits of this and that. It was a little spicy but more in just like the whiff you get of a spice cabinet, again not specific but pleasant. It was rich but not overpowering, with an easy finish- I could see this easily sat next to ham and sweet potato casserole. Not as fancy as a Pinot, but not as heavy as a big 15+% Zin. I wouldn’t call it elegant, either, but also not rustic - it is more polished than a bigger Zin, with a little earthiness but nothing that shoves the berries and spice out of the way. The balance is very food friendly. I had it with a bowl of chili that the neighbor walked over, and it was a good balance to that. I may be biased because of the nostalgia, but I am also very partial to wines of this “weight” - heavier than Pinot but only just slightly, with a good balance of fruit and acidity, that doesn’t overpower my food or my palate. I really like this wine and thanks Casemates, Terry, David et al for sending me on this lovely lovely walk down memory lane. sniff
We opened this bottle of Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse Zinfandel and are really happy we got a chance to rat such a tasty wine.
Pours a dark ruby (but not inky if that makes any sense) and has great legs on the glass. There’s not an explosion of aroma on the nose but rather a gentle warmth that I couldn’t place. I got some great black pepper and it really opened up to loads of blackberry, then some light cocoa and maybe some hints of baking spice. Nice acidity with some tannins (not enough to really dig in) made for a solid mouthfeel.
This bottle was great as a solo slow sipper and I’d love to have some with a steak or lamb. One of the best bottles we’ve ratted. Gotta check my budget and capacity because I’d love some more of this.
Cheers and thanks for the chance to rat!