“‘I am not retired.’ Arrowood founder Richard Arrowood states the obvious to me as we meet on the slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in the Sonoma Valley at his 100-plus-acre estate. The industry may have lost touch with this legendary veteran after his eponymous winery was sold (it’s now in the hands of Kendall-Jackson), but you can’t keep Richard Arrowood away from winemaking.

 Richard and his wife Alis have now re-invented themselves with Amapola Creek. Twenty acres of vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache – fan above the Sonoma Valley floor, and the benefit of neighboring Monte Rosso Vineyard allows for some truly stellar Zinfandel.

 The first vintage for Amapola Creek released in 2005, and now, presiding over a lifetime of 46 harvests, Richard Arrowood is home at last.

 Amapola Creek 2009 Zinfandel (SRP $40) hails from the famous Monte Rosso Vineyard. Creamy devil’s food cake batter and elegant blackberry chocolate once again proves that old-vine Zinfandel lives up to its reputation, and this is a marvelous specimen. Releases later this winter.”

Executive Editor Meredith May 

The Tasting Panel

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Amapola Creek

2009 Amapola Creek Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard Vinas Antiguas Sonoma Valley

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Press Democrat wine writer Peg Melnik scopes out restaurant wine lists around the North Bay, looking for good value and the occasional splurge. This week's picks (prices are retail; restaurant markup varies):

“Cigar-friendly wines include: Amapola Creek 2008 Zinfandel from Sonoma’s historic Monte Rosso Vineyards with its 115 year old vines…”

By Richard Carleton Hacker-Smoke Magazine

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“2008 Amapola Creek ‘Vinas Antiguas’ Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley: powerful flavors of black raspberries and cloves, full-bodied, very rich, smooth; $30. This is a zin like they used to make them: unsubtle, in-your-face, a hearty 15.1 percent alcohol — wonderful.”

Fred Tasker

The Miami Herald

Highly recommended

 “2008 Amapola Creek “Vinas Antiguas” Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley: powerful flavors of black raspberries and cloves, full-bodied, very rich, smooth.”

Fred Tasker

 The Miami Herald

“For a balanced, concentrated and very pure zin: the 2008 Amapola Creek Monte Rosso Vineyard Vinas Antiguas Zinfandel. Loads of black fruit here, along with a suggestion of spice. Ripe, with a whiff of vanilla, it's a vivid, versatile wine. Ideal with beef stew, braised lamb, or your very best cheeseburger.”

Peter M. Gianotti

Newsday

2007 Amapola Creek Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel

Richard Arrowood, a dean of Sonoma wine, is making intense reds at his new winery.

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AMAPOLA CREEK
Zinfandel Sonoma Valley Monte Rosso Vineyard Viñas Antiguas 2007

Score: 90

Sleek and elegantly jammy, but well-structured. Offers bright aromas of tart plum and toasty spice, with layered flavors of black cherry, sage and anise that finish with a kiss of ripe tannins. Drink now through 2015. 313 cases made. –TF

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As for the 2007 Zinfandel Monte Rosso, its Provencal garrigue, lavender, pepper and spice seem more evolved aromatically than the older 2005 Zinfandel. Supple, rich in fruit, medium to full-bodied, and more seductive than the 2005, it is a sprinter out of the gate and should continue to drink well for 5-7 years.

It is another brilliant Zinfandel from the Monte Rosso Ranch.

91 | Richard Arrowood makes this complex and distinctive zinfandel from old vines at Monte Rosso. It packs the eucalyptus and citrus scents of an orange grove along with powerful mineral clarity in the tannin. The texture is succulent, the citrus notes adding a pleasing volatility, like a dash of balsamic to kick up grilled hanger steak (W&S, 10/08; 400 cases)The Cellars of Amapola Creek Vineyards, Glen Ellen, CA.

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"...The 2005 Amapola Creek Zinfandel is a BIG wine with complex characteristics. Robust ripe fruit onthe nose boasts aromas of black cherry and cassis. The flavors on the palate show ripe blackberrywith a hint of sweet tobacco. There is a unique minerality in this wine which mirrors the complexvolcanic ash soils of the land. The lasting finish is rich with ripe tannins, vanilla and toasted oak. Thisis a superbly crafted zinfandel! The wine is unfiltered and unrefined. I paired this outstandingzinfandel with a grilled pear salad and soft ripened St. Agur blue cheese.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from a very limited yield from Amapola Creek’sexclusive estate vines. This luscious cab is seductive and aromatic on the nose with essences of anisand spices. The mouth feel is soft and silky with flavors of ripe black currant and plumb. Theremarkably consistent finish displays soft ripe tannins and hints of oak, vanilla and spice. This lovelyCabernet Sauvignon showcases artisan winemaking at its best! The wine is unfiltered and unrefined.I paired this exceptional cab with grilled skirt steak and herbed polenta with goat cheese and roastedtomatoes...."

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2005 was not an easy vintage for Zinfandel, but you would never know that tasting Arrowood’s 2005 Zinfandel from the Monte Rosso Vineyard (bottled unfined and unfiltered). Rich, briary black cherry and black currant fruit, loads of earth, spice and pepper remain remarkably youthful and potentially long-lived by Zinfandel standards. This is a full, fresh, vibrant wine that should drink well for at least another decade.

It is one of the most impressive 2005s I’ve tasted.