Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity Red Rhone Blend 2019

96 points - limited                                      Epoch Winery is a phenomenal new label from Paso Robles under winemaker Jordan Fiorentini - not to be missed while still available. 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Epoch 2019 Ingenuity checks in as 71% Petite Sirah, 14% Mourvèdre, 12% Grenache, and a splash of Syrah. It's another beautiful, elegant, yet powerful wine from Fiorentini offering tons of ripe black fruits, notes of ground pepper, chocolate, and graphite, medium to full body, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It has plenty of up-front appeal, yet there's a focused, firmed edge here that makes me suspect it will be even better with just a year or so in bottle." ...Epoch is another top estate in Paso Robles that has seen incredible growth and change over the past decade. Now in a new facility on York Mountain, winemaker Jordan Fiorentini continues to experiment with new blends as well as different fermentation vessels, also using a touch more whole cluster at times. These are rich, textured, classic Paso Robles reds." 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.

Save