Not overly fruity like many lower priced Zins. Served with a nice spiced marinated pork loin chop, it was the perfect pair. http://designshop.snooth.com/merchandising/images/gdpmagicalporktenderloin.pdf
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Tasted blind. Nose of candied red fruit, huge cinnamon spice, vanilla, over the top oak. Strawberry jolly rancher on the attack followed up by gigantic, cloying American oak, gobs of vanilla with a hugely sappy finish. While obviously Cali zin ex-post, I had trouble pinpointing this as it was so sweet and oaky. I'm a huge fan of Cali zin (almost 2 cs of Turley in the cellar), but I hated this- it's one of those wines that reminds me this is the same grape they use to make white zin. Cloying to the point of near undrinkability. 78.
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A big jammy wine with a great nose and a surprisingly smooth approach as it is young and intense. Prunes, blackberries and boisenberries are the primary fruits. It really settles down about one half hour after opening. It is a really nice example of central coast zin with just enough white pepper and herbs to satisfy the true zin believer. Big wine from start to finiish. Went really well with grilled chicken and herbs.
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~30-min decant in med base @55F. COLOR- fine. NOSE- candied red-fruits peek-a-boo at first, then appearing in longer-terms as the glass warms -- here strawberry jam, there a center raspberry pop-tart; seems floral and I'd almost call it Pinot-like were it not for the "jammy" character. Really invites a drink. OhhHoo, this is tasty. Quite lush and open for business, this squirts all kinds of raspberry jam and sugared-strawberry topping along the oral-pathways. This is pure red-fruit heaven (not as much of the smokiness or dark fruit elements I recall from the '06). The mouthfeel is very smooth, and there's only a hint of tannin showing on the fore-teeth. Structure is slim, but acidity marks the path where I sense none of the high-alcohol heat one might expect from a young CA Zin. A layer of cream like a foamed latte coats the mouth as this goes down. The finish is straight and 1-dimensional but has good length -- just a little pepper here. This is not the most complex wine, and for that I'll doc it a point, but there's really nice fruit, flavor concentration and wine-making execution. This drinks like one of those heavy, expensive Pinots where they mix in the other stuff and you get something utterly delicious and drinkable but nothing like a true Pinot. I grabbed this bottle tonight after reading Caring_Bear's concerned expressions earlier. I'll probably score this a point less than I did the '06 for it's lack of structure and complexity, but I think I'm going to enjoy this two points more. It's just so easy to drink. Do so now and for the next three years, perhaps more.
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As a huge fan of the AP 2006 (I rated it a 90 and would have gone considerably higher based on the QPR alone)I initially bought 3 cases and ultimately bought 4 more from various sources. Sadly it is nearly all gone... and I eagerly awaited the latest vintage. At the end of August I purchased a case of the 07. Since that time I have tried it alone, with food, and with a cellared bottle open over a period of 3 days. I have surveyed my friends in a side-by-side with the 2006. I have also more recently tried it side by side with 2006, over a period of 3 days (same bottles). I did this twice. Why was I so thorough with this one? Well, I hoped my initial instincts were wrong, so waited awhile to try it again. I then read the first 2 CT reviews, which were rather glowing, and I felt like I must have missed something. And yet... My conclusion: This is, at best, a shadow of what the 2006 was. 2007 lacks the jammy fruit, the creamy finish, and the overall killer integration of the previous year. Dark fruit, a bit one dimensional, poorly integrated tannins and a lackluster finish. From an (overly simple) generalization, I would make these comparisons: 2006 AP similar to 2006 Rafanelli (whoa, and I LOVE Rafanelli) 2007 AP similar to 2006 Cline Ancient Vines The QPR is okay, but I won't be buying more, even with free shipping and a 20% club discount. Disappointed, but looking forward to trying the '08. BTW, not sure of how skinowdrinklater was tasting this, but all of my side-by-side comparisons were the exact opposite of his....
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Drinking well right now. Consumed alongside the '06 and the '07 was by far more fruit injected, whereas the '06 had some spice characteristics dominating. Was considered the fav. among the 2.
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After the surprising brilliance of Ancient Peaks' '06 zin, I was anxious to try the '07, but also apprehensive. What a disappointment it would be if the new vintage proved the previous success to be a fluke. Certainly, the '05 was not in the same league. Then again, '07 was a stellar growing year, and folks at the winery assured me when I visited this past winter that quality would only rise.
My worries were unfounded. The '07 is deeper, darker and richer than the shimmering '06, but it doesn't lose the sense of proportion that made that wine one of my favorite zinfandels. Like its predecessor, it is driven by ripe raspberry fruit, with added dimensions of blue and black fruit, shaded by pepper and vanilla. The oak is unmissable, but it remains a complement to the fruit rather than vying for supremacy. While it's a bit hot on day one, and carries 15 percent alcohol, the size is justified by a long, deep, fruit-filled finish that eclipses that of the '06. This tasted better on the second day than the first, suggesting it could evolve with age.
The overall impression is of a serious, claret-like zinfandel that is also juicy and fun right out of the bottle. For $16 retail, this remains the best zinfandel bargain I have found -- even more so now that Seghesio has hiked its prices. Nice work, Ancient Peaks.
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11/5/2014 - europat55 wrote: 89 Points
Excellent Zin!
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7/12/2013 - Cantina Hill's Likes this wine: 89 Points
A great buy Zin, rich, berry med minus tannin, DARK FRUIT, fruit forward
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8/25/2012 - europat55 wrote: 89 Points
Fruity, spicy. This seems to be getting better over the years.
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5/26/2011 - europat55 wrote: 87 Points
Decent Zin...
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2/10/2011 - kstoddard wrote: 84 Points
Paso Robles Tasting (AZ Wine Company): Black cherry, charred oak, and earth. Ripe finish.
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11/1/2010 - bcmatthias wrote: 87 Points
Oaky, decent fruit.
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9/18/2010 - bcmatthias wrote: 89 Points
Some spice, lots of jammy fruit.
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7/5/2010 - radavis3 wrote: 89 Points
Not overly fruity like many lower priced Zins. Served with a nice spiced marinated pork loin chop, it was the perfect pair.
http://designshop.snooth.com/merchandising/images/gdpmagicalporktenderloin.pdf
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3/27/2010 - Bluedevil99 wrote:
Tasted blind. Nose of candied red fruit, huge cinnamon spice, vanilla, over the top oak. Strawberry jolly rancher on the attack followed up by gigantic, cloying American oak, gobs of vanilla with a hugely sappy finish. While obviously Cali zin ex-post, I had trouble pinpointing this as it was so sweet and oaky. I'm a huge fan of Cali zin (almost 2 cs of Turley in the cellar), but I hated this- it's one of those wines that reminds me this is the same grape they use to make white zin. Cloying to the point of near undrinkability. 78.
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2/18/2010 - louis1ma wrote: 88 Points
A big jammy wine with a great nose and a surprisingly smooth approach as it is young and intense. Prunes, blackberries and boisenberries are the primary fruits. It really settles down about one half hour after opening. It is a really nice example of central coast zin with just enough white pepper and herbs to satisfy the true zin believer. Big wine from start to finiish. Went really well with grilled chicken and herbs.
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12/12/2009 - z_willus_d wrote: 89 Points
~30-min decant in med base @55F. COLOR- fine. NOSE- candied red-fruits peek-a-boo at first, then appearing in longer-terms as the glass warms -- here strawberry jam, there a center raspberry pop-tart; seems floral and I'd almost call it Pinot-like were it not for the "jammy" character. Really invites a drink. OhhHoo, this is tasty. Quite lush and open for business, this squirts all kinds of raspberry jam and sugared-strawberry topping along the oral-pathways. This is pure red-fruit heaven (not as much of the smokiness or dark fruit elements I recall from the '06). The mouthfeel is very smooth, and there's only a hint of tannin showing on the fore-teeth. Structure is slim, but acidity marks the path where I sense none of the high-alcohol heat one might expect from a young CA Zin. A layer of cream like a foamed latte coats the mouth as this goes down. The finish is straight and 1-dimensional but has good length -- just a little pepper here. This is not the most complex wine, and for that I'll doc it a point, but there's really nice fruit, flavor concentration and wine-making execution. This drinks like one of those heavy, expensive Pinots where they mix in the other stuff and you get something utterly delicious and drinkable but nothing like a true Pinot. I grabbed this bottle tonight after reading Caring_Bear's concerned expressions earlier. I'll probably score this a point less than I did the '06 for it's lack of structure and complexity, but I think I'm going to enjoy this two points more. It's just so easy to drink. Do so now and for the next three years, perhaps more.
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12/12/2009 - Caring_Bear wrote: 86 Points
As a huge fan of the AP 2006 (I rated it a 90 and would have gone considerably higher based on the QPR alone)I initially bought 3 cases and ultimately bought 4 more from various sources. Sadly it is nearly all gone... and I eagerly awaited the latest vintage.
At the end of August I purchased a case of the 07. Since that time I have tried it alone, with food, and with a cellared bottle open over a period of 3 days. I have surveyed my friends in a side-by-side with the 2006. I have also more recently tried it side by side with 2006, over a period of 3 days (same bottles). I did this twice.
Why was I so thorough with this one? Well, I hoped my initial instincts were wrong, so waited awhile to try it again. I then read the first 2 CT reviews, which were rather glowing, and I felt like I must have missed something. And yet...
My conclusion: This is, at best, a shadow of what the 2006 was. 2007 lacks the jammy fruit, the creamy finish, and the overall killer integration of the previous year.
Dark fruit, a bit one dimensional, poorly integrated tannins and a lackluster finish.
From an (overly simple) generalization, I would make these comparisons:
2006 AP similar to 2006 Rafanelli (whoa, and I LOVE Rafanelli)
2007 AP similar to 2006 Cline Ancient Vines
The QPR is okay, but I won't be buying more, even with free shipping and a 20% club discount.
Disappointed, but looking forward to trying the '08.
BTW, not sure of how skinowdrinklater was tasting this, but all of my side-by-side comparisons were the exact opposite of his....
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11/25/2009 - skinowdrinklater wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well right now. Consumed alongside the '06 and the '07 was by far more fruit injected, whereas the '06 had some spice characteristics dominating. Was considered the fav. among the 2.
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10/14/2009 - will2wine wrote: 91 Points
After the surprising brilliance of Ancient Peaks' '06 zin, I was anxious to try the '07, but also apprehensive. What a disappointment it would be if the new vintage proved the previous success to be a fluke. Certainly, the '05 was not in the same league. Then again, '07 was a stellar growing year, and folks at the winery assured me when I visited this past winter that quality would only rise.
My worries were unfounded. The '07 is deeper, darker and richer than the shimmering '06, but it doesn't lose the sense of proportion that made that wine one of my favorite zinfandels. Like its predecessor, it is driven by ripe raspberry fruit, with added dimensions of blue and black fruit, shaded by pepper and vanilla. The oak is unmissable, but it remains a complement to the fruit rather than vying for supremacy. While it's a bit hot on day one, and carries 15 percent alcohol, the size is justified by a long, deep, fruit-filled finish that eclipses that of the '06. This tasted better on the second day than the first, suggesting it could evolve with age.
The overall impression is of a serious, claret-like zinfandel that is also juicy and fun right out of the bottle. For $16 retail, this remains the best zinfandel bargain I have found -- even more so now that Seghesio has hiked its prices. Nice work, Ancient Peaks.
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