On Sale: $64.94 (was: $74.94)*
Paso Robles’ best Rhone-style blends are California’s answer to Chateauneuf du Pape, and there’s no doubt the past two decades have seen an explosion of world-class wineries here. Following in the footsteps of Saxum and Booker, Epoch has quickly asserted itself as one of Paso Robles’ top producers, working with Saxum’s Justin Smith to revitalize the old pre-prohibition Paderewski vineyard. “Capturing all the power of which western Paso Robles is capable” (Wine Advocate), Epoch has been impressing us across their growing range of wines, and 'Ingenuity' is a quintessentially Californian blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, and Grenache. Sourced primarily from Paderewski Vineyard, with Catapult Vineyard playing a supporting role, this 96pt 2016 showcases the balance-meets-power of Paso’s Willow Creek district, and a new classic from this historic vineyard.
Winemaker Jordan Fiorentini has left her mark on the house style since taking over in 2010, crafting “some of the best wines in Paso Robles” (Vinous). What she’s really done to impress nearly everyone in the business is find finesse within the ripeness of the warmer microclimate of Willow Creek. Epoch's proprietors clearly struck gold with Paderewski Vineyard, and each year shows a growing sense of refinement. Thanks to the “picture-perfect growing season” (Dunnuck), this 2016 is an absolute knockout, and you won’t find it for a better price.
96 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "It has a deep ruby-purple color and slowly spreads its aromatic wings to a perfume of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries and warm blackberries, with marionberry and boysenberries accents, gobs of violet and lilac perfume, touches of black pepper, loamy earth, mint leaves, bitter chocolate and olive—what a fantastic perfume! The palate is silky and expansive with the most unbelievable floral character. It's got finely pixelated tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and layered. This is outstanding!"
95+ points, Jeb Dunnuck: "This deeply colored effort offers up a great yet slightly closed, backward bouquet of black fruits, ground herbs, charred meat, and toasted spices. It's rich, full-bodied, has a fleshy, opulent texture, no hard edges, yet the class to improve with another year or two of bottle age and keep for a decade. Drink 2021-2031"
95 points, Vinous: "A highly complex, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cherry cola, mocha and potpourri, and baking spice and licorice nuances appear with air. Rich yet lively as well, offering palate-staining blackberry, cherry preserve, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that take on a floral note on the back half. The impressively long, spice-tinged finish features resonating florality and smooth, polished tannins that come in late."
*Offer publication date December 29, 2021. Pricing and availability subject to change.