On the western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains, which rise between and separate the Sonoma and Napa Valleys, lays a hidden gem. Amapola Creek is a breathtaking 120-acre ranch, home to Richard and Alis Arrowood and Amapola Creek Winery.
Richard and Alis are the former owners of Arrowood Winery in Sonoma Valley, where Richard still produces his handcrafted wines. Amapola Creek is the Arrowood’s newest venture, inspired by Richard’s lifelong quest to craft his best wines ever. The ranch is home to their 20-acre Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, Montana Vista Vineyard, adjacent to the highly acclaimed Monte Rosso Vineyard, where they grow Zinfandel.
Amapola Creek wines are made from organically grown grapes using sustainable farming methods. Their vineyard manager, Phil Coturri, has built a reputation as the premier organic viticulturist in Sonoma Valley, if not all of Northern California.
The winery is not open to the public and only those who are fortunate to have been given the gate codes can enter the property. I have had the good fortune of experiencing Amapola Creek’s beautifully crafted limited production wines and it is my extreme pleasure to review them.
The 2005 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Old Vine Zinfandel was Amapola Creek’s first release, in 2008. There were only 400 cases of each produced.
The 2005 Amapola Creek Zinfandel is a BIG wine with complex characteristics. Robust ripe fruit on the nose boasts aromas of black cherry and cassis. The flavors on the palate show ripe blackberry with a hint of sweet tobacco. There is a unique minerality in this wine which mirrors the complex volcanic ash soils of the land. The lasting finish is rich with ripe tannins, vanilla and toasted oak. This is a superbly crafted zinfandel, unfiltered and unrefined. I paired it with a grilled pear salad and soft ripened St. Agur blue cheese – outstanding!
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from a very limited yield from Amapola Creek’s exclusive estate vines. This luscious cab is seductive and aromatic on the nose with essences of anis and spices. The mouth feel is soft and silky with flavors of ripe black currant and plumb. The remarkably consistent finish displays soft ripe tannins and hints of oak, vanilla and spice. This lovely Cabernet Sauvignon, unfiltered and unrefined, showcases artisan winemaking at its best. I paired it with grilled skirt steak and herbed polenta with goat cheese and roasted tomatoes.
If you want to experience the exceptional quality of Amapola Creek limited production wines, you have to sign up on the ‘A’ List on Amapola Creek’s website amapolacreek.com. I highly recommend Amapola Creek wines to any dedicated wine enthusiast who appreciates quality over quantity.
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