Epoch Estate Wines Authenticity Red Rhone Blend 2017

98 points - new release                      Epoch Winery is a phenomenal new label from Paso Robles. Limited. 99 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "A wine that’s going to flirt with perfection, the 2017 Authenticity offers everything you could want from Paso Robles. Incredible notes of blue fruits, lavender, violets, ground pepper, and spice all flow to a full-bodied effort that picks up more spice and meatiness with time in the glass. With lots of tannins, full-bodied richness and power, and flawless balance, don’t miss it. It's another magical wine from this estate that needs to be tasted to be believed." 96 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "Vivid purple. Intensely perfumed aromas of cassis, candied cherry, succulent flowers and pipe tobacco pick up a smoky overtone and building spiciness. Sappy and sharply focused, offering finely detailed dark berry and cherry-vanilla flavors and hints of bitter cherry, candied violet and baking spices. Gains sweetness with air and finishes with resonating floral and dark berry notes on a strikingly long, alluringly sweet and youthfully tannic finish. 22% whole clusters, raised in a combination of stainless steel, concrete and French oak vessels." The proprietors of Epoch, the Armstrong family, have overseen the rebirth of a historic vineyard once owned by the philanthropist and musician, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. This site was dedicated to Zinfandel in the early 1900s. Prohibition put an end to that, but that vineyard is now one of three estate vineyards comprising this 95-acre project. One part of Epoch is near Peachy Canyon, a big chunk of it sits next to the Booker Vineyard, and the rest is on York Mountain. The ambition of the Armstrongs is to produce 100% estate wines, and of the 95 acres, 60 are planted with southern Rhone varietals, and the rest with Tempranillo. Saxum’s Justin Smith, who serves as a consultant, told me that he thinks the micro-climate is slightly warmer than his James Berry vineyard. The first releases, which I tasted, are exceptional, so this looks to be a promising new venture.

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