The Peachy Canyon Lodi Zinfandel 2017 can be found at Trader Joe’s for $7.99. This is a mystery wine since it does not show up on Peachy Canyon’s website or have much of a web presence.
Peachy Canyon Winery, founded in 1988, is located in the Paso Robles AVA inside California’s Central Coast AVA. It is owned and operated by the Beckett family and features wines made from Paso Robles grapes, and often using single vineyards.
All this makes the Peachy Canyon Lodi Zinfandel 2017 something of an anomaly. I found this Lodi Zin selling at a couple of internet stores for $20 and $30, which is strange since Trader Joe’s has it for under eight bucks.
There have been some changes at the Peachy Canyon Winery. Lately, the father, who founded the winery, turned the operation over to his two sons. The Beckett started their own con label about 10 years ago, Chronic Cellars. You may know those wines from the Sofa King Bueno red, among others.
They sold that label to a major wine company and recently returned to Peachy Canyon Winery. I am speculating, but it is common for a winery that changes the management and winemaking team to make adjustments to their product line.
Since the Peachy Canyon Lodi Zinfandel 2017 looks to be available at stores other than TJ’s, it does not seem to be a Trader Joe’s exclusive. But Trader Joe’s may well have the best price.
Peachy Canyon’s current value Zinfandel is the Westside Zinfandel, which lists for $20. Prices on winery websites are often higher than you may find in your local wines shop so that they do not directly compete.
Lodi is my personal favorite growing region for Zinfandel wines. A winemaking style that is often used produces the wines to be sleek and sophisticated and rustic, juicy and spicy.
Since Peachy Canyon Winery does not offer information on the production of the Peachy Canyon Lodi Zinfandel 2017, I do not have any production details to talk about.
I expect this Zinfandel to be aged in a mix of French and American oak barrels, I expect Peach Canyon to carefully choose the vineyards, and I expect this wine was never intended to sell for $7.99. There is usually a story to be told when a 2017 Red wine sells for under ten dollars.
Three years plus is too much time and effort for this low of a return. You sometimes see low, out of the ordinary pieces for brand wines. But, Peachy Canyon is an actually family-owned winery, and family-owned wineries do not stay in business by selling their wines cheap. The alcohol content is 14.3%.
Peachy Canyon Lodi Zinfandel 2017 Tasting Notes
The color is a barely see-thru garnet red. The nose is rich and balanced; there is ripe blackberry, spice, burnt toast, pepper, licorice, and dark chocolate.
I did not expect Paso Robles winemakers to produce a Lodi-style wine, simply use Lodi grapes, but the Peachy Canyon Lodi Zinfandel 2017 comes close to that classy/rustic style I like.
It tastes of blackberry jam, soothing blueberry, a brush of exotic spice, and black pepper. The mid-palate brings raspberry, a salty sensation, a little bitter dark chocolate, and more spice.
The tannins and the acidity are well controlled. The tannins give this Zin a sturdy backbone, and the acidity gives the wine length so the flavors can unfold.
The Summary
- The Peachy Canyon Lodi Zinfandel 2017 is a delicious wine. Why it is featured on Trader Joe’s wine shelves for $7.99, I do not know. But this is a solid Zinfandel made by an excellent Zinfandel producer.
- Peachy Canyon Winery makes excellent wine that is seldom featured at this price point. This is a chance to get a quality wine from a quality produced at a bargain price.
