Peachy Canyon Winery Westside 2023

Viticulture

40% Old Schoolhouse Vineyard, 25% Mustang Springs Ranch, 11 % Bailey Ranch, 9% Thibido Vineyard, 9% Mustard Creek, 6% Snow

Vinification

2023 Westside Zinfandel is crafted from bits and pieces of Peachy Canyon's best zinfandels from vineyards across the west side of Paso Robles. Each lot is harvested separately by hand in the cool morning hours and then delivered to the winery where it is weighed and gently sorted and destemmed. Each lot of fruit is then carefully matched with a fermentation vessel that matches its size. Most lots are fermented natively though some are inoculated with commercial yeast strains. Each lot receives 2-3 gentle hand punchdowns per day. After fermentation is completed, wines are gently pressed and aged in 30% new French oak and Hungarian oak barrels and puncheons. After the first year of ageing, select barrels of zinfandel are racked to tank to blend Westside before being barreled back down to mostly neutral American Oak barrels where it will age and coalesce for an additional 8 months prior to bottling.

Tasting notes

The 2023 Westside Zinfandel exhibits a deep ruby color with aromas of blackberry,boysenberry, and a hint of black pepper. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with flavors of dark fruit, plum, and baking spices, supported by a firm yet elegant tannic structure. The vibrant acidity from the cooler vintage provides a long, balanced finish. This wine is approachable now but will continue to develop and gain complexity with bottle age.

Pairing

Enjoy it with brisket, roast chicken and tomato based pastas.

Winery Description

Zinfandel Specialists of Paso Robles

Peachy Canyon Winery is a family-owned and operated winery in Paso Robles, in California’s Central Coast.  Founded by Doug and Nancy Beckett in 1988, and considered one of Paso Robles’ earliest 10 wineries, Peachy Canyon has long been praised as a producer of award-winning California wines that epitomize respect for terroir and dedicated winemaking.  Peachy Canyon was instrumental in establishing Paso Robles’ reputation as a key California wine region with its exemplary Zinfandels.

Today, Peachy Canyon Winery is managed by 2nd-generation owners, Josh and Jake Beckett, who spent their childhood in the vineyard and winery alongside their parents, Doug and Nancy.  During their decades long career path in the industry, the brothers recognized an opportunity for more unorthodox brands in the market.  In 2004, they took a leave from Peachy Canyon to create their own brand, Chronic Cellars.  Through shrewd marketing and remarkable quality wines, they built Chronic Cellars to 17,000 cases before selling to Winery Exchange in 2014 and subsequently completing the five-year buyout agreement in early 2019.  Promptly thereafter, Josh and Jake returned to Peachy Canyon Winery to relieve their parents of the daily operations and responsibilities of the family business.

Although Peachy Canyon has historically been known as a Zinfandel house, a full 40% of what is planted today is Rhone and Bordeaux variety based.  Josh and Jake recently acquired some new vineyards. The family now cultivates 102 acres planted on Paso’s westside, all within the 3 most coveted sub AVA’s:  Willow Creek, Adelaida and the Templeton Gap.  Future plantings will include Zinfandel, Rhone and Bordeaux varieties as the brothers are interested in continuing to develop their production of Estate wines and blends.  Beginning with the 2019 vintage, Peachy Canyon will use fruit exclusively from its 102 acres of family-owned, estate vineyards in Paso Robles.