2016 Ingenuity

Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles
54% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah, 16% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache
Fermented in concrete, stainless steel and one-ton bins (overall 10% whole cluster)
Aged 19 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (75% new)
Released Fall 2019 | unfined and unfiltered

Jeb Dunnuck | 95+
The 2016 Ingenuity checks in as 54% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah, 16% Mourvèdre, and the rest Grenache that was mostly destemmed and spent 19 months in 75% new French oak. 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. 2021 – 2023; October 2019 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vinous | 95
Dark magenta. 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. 75% new French oak; February 2020, (Josh Raynolds)

2015 Ingenuity

Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles
51% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Grenache
Fermented in concrete, stainless steel and oak tanks
Aged 19 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (60% new)
Released Fall 2018 | unfined and unfiltered

Jeb Dunnuck | 97
The inky colored 2015 Ingenuity (51% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre, 14% Petite Sirah, and the balance Grenache) is another broad, layered, incredibly sexy wine from winemaker Jordan Fiorentini. Offering up lots of smoked earth, ground pepper, exotic flowers, and assorted dark fruits, it opens up beautifully with time in the glass, has a layered, ultra-pure style, and a great, great finish. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. Bravo! 2018 – 2028; November 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Wine Enthusiast | 96
Rich and yet focused aromas of black cherry and cassis are leveled by wet gravel and crushed slate on the intense nose of this blend of 51% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre, 14% Petite Sirah and 7% Grenache. The palate is very structural at first with stand-up tannins, but they open the doors to lush floral and fruit flavors, from lilac and lavender to elegant plums and berries. – April 2019 (Matt Kettmann)

Vinous | 95
(raised for 19 months in large French oak casks, 60% of them new) Glass-staining violet. Powerful, mineral-accented blueberry, cherry cola and vanilla aromas pick up suggestions of exotic spices and incense in the glass. Alluringly sweet, palate-staining black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors deepen with air and spread out while retaining vivacity and focus. Smoothly balances concentration and finesse. A smoky mineral quality adds vibrant cut to a strikingly long, sweet, dark-fruit-dominated finish. Drink 2025 – 2034 – September 2018 (Josh Raynolds)

Wine Advocate | 92
The 2015 Ingenuity Proprietary Red offers up an expressive nose of dark chocolate, grilled meat, ripe blackberries and cherry preserve. Full-bodied, rich and expansive, it cuts a broad swath across the palate, revealing a deep core of sun-kissed, concentrated fruit and a gently chewy finish. It’s one of the more fruit-forward wines in the Epoch portfolio.  May, 2018 (William Kelley)

Wine Spectator | 91
Dense and deeply structured, with smoky game, black currant and licorice notes that build intensity toward bold but polished tannins. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah and Grenache. Drink now through 2025. 1,128 cases made. – March 2019 (Tim Fish)

2014 Ingenuity

Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles
50% Syrah | 25% Grenache | 18% Mourvèdre | 7% Petite Sirah
Fermented in stainless steel and concrete tanks, ½- ton French oak puncheons and 1-ton bins
Aged 18 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (36% new)
Released Fall 2017 | unfined and unfiltered

Wine Enthusiast | 95 & Cellar Selection
Viscous and dark in the glass, this wine’s unctuous nose shows black currant, violet and a hint of hot asphalt. The blend of 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre and 7% Petite Sirah is tight on the palate, where a tarry texture carries flavors of concentrated black currant, fresh blackberry and wild chaparral herbs. Drink 2019–2029. – May 2018 (Matt Kettmann)

Jeb Dunnuck | 95
The 2014 Ingenuity checks in as 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre and the balance Petite Sirah brought up in 36% new French oak barrels and puncheons. This is a big, rich, meaty Paso red that offers full-flavored notes of plums, blackberries, violets and hints of white chocolate, full-bodied richness, ripe tannin and a big finish. I love its purity, and this puppy is just loaded with fruit, texture and charm.

Wine Advocate | 94
Produced from 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre and 7% Petit Sirah, the 2014 Ingenuity Proprietary Red has a deep garnet-purple color and alluring nose of licorice, dark chocolate-covered cherries and charcuterie with a hint of Provence herbs. Full-bodied, concentrated and with an approachable frame of ripe, rounded tannins, it has lovely spice, black fruit layers and great length. 1,609 cases were made. – September 2017 (Lisa Perotti-Brown)

Vinous | 93
Lurid violet. Ripe, smoke-tinged raspberry and boysenberry compote and cola aromas show excellent clarity, and a peppery element adds spicy lift. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering densely packed yet lively red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors and a hint of star anise. Shows superb energy on the broad, strikingly long finish, which is framed by velvety tannins and sharpened by a snap of juicy acidity. – November 2017 (Josh Raynolds)

2013 Ingenuity

Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles
54% Syrah | 21% Mourvèdre | 16% Grenache | 9% Petite Sirah
Fermented ~26% whole cluster in concrete and stainless steel tanks, ½-ton French oak puncheons and 1-ton bins
Aged for 17 months in 49% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Released Fall 2016 | unfined and unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 96
The GSM blend from the estate is the 2013 Ingenuity Proprietary Red, which in 2013 is 54% Syrah, 21% Mourvedre, 16% Grenache and the balance Petite Sirah. It saw a touch of whole clusters in the fermentation and like the other 2013s here, spent 17 months in roughly 50% new French oak. This downright sexy, full-bodied and sweetly fruited beauty offers tons of black raspberry, plums, incense and peppery aromas and flavors, gorgeous tannin quality and a long, classy finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. – August 2016 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Wine Enthusiast | 94
The winery’s characteristic dense style is immediately apparent in this blend of 54% Syrah, 21% Mourvèdre, 16% Grenache and 9% Petite Sirah. It offers black licorice, smoked meat, baked black cherry and graphite aromas, needing time to breathe before unleashing black coffee, elderberry jam, asphalt and charcoal flavors through tarry tannins. Drink 2018–2028. – May, 2017 (Matt Kettemann)

Vinous | 93
Bright purple. Intense blackberry and candied licorice aromas show excellent clarity and pick up a smoky nuance with air. Sweet and focused, showing strong mineral lift to the densely packed, appealingly sweet black and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors. Becomes more lively and spicy with air, picking up a suave star anise note that carries emphatically through a very long, youthfully tannic finish. While I’ve no doubt that this sexy wine will reward patience, it has a lot going on already. – September 2016 (Josh Raynolds)

Wine Spectator | 93
Potent, structured and jammed with character, offering aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice and rich, muscular flavors of blueberry and smoky cracked pepper. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Petite Sirah. Drink now through 2027. – March 2017 (Tim Fish)

2012 Ingenuity

Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles
58% Syrah | 18% Mourvèdre | 14% Grenache | 10% Petite Sirah
Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks, one-ton bin and French oak puncheons
Aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Released Spring 2015 | unfined and unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 94
Another blockbuster, the 2012 Ingenuity Proprietary Red is comprised of 58% Syrah, 18% Mourvedre, 14% Grenache and 10% Petite Sirah that was fermented in concrete and stainless steel before spending 18 months in 40% new French oak. Ripe, voluptuous and textured, with beautifully managed tannic grip, it offers lots of black fruits, smoke, licorice, chocolate and hints of spice on the nose, with some saline minerality on the finish. Coming 80% from the Paderewski vineyard and 20% from Catapult Vineyard, it’s a killer Paso red to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years. – August 2015 (Jeb Dunnuck)

International Wine Report | 94
The wine is gorgeous a blend of 58% Syrah, 18% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, and 10% Petite Sirah that was aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak prior to bottling. 80% of this red wine was sourced from the Paderewski vineyard, while 20% was sourced from the Catapult vineyard. This red blend begins with aromatics reminiscent of pipe tobacco, anise, black olive, black cherry and black raspberries all taking shape in the glass. There are rich flavors of milk chocolate, crème de cassis, anise and Turkish coffee which resonate across the palate. Intense, dense and layered, this shows the potential to have have a very long life ahead.  Best 2016-2030 – May 2016 (Owen Bargreen)

Vinous | 92
Saturated ruby-violet color. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, incense, cola and smoky minerals. In a rich, weighty style but in no way short on energy, with its intense cassis and blackberry flavors given spine by juicy acidity. Smooths out and gains sweetness on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves notes of dark berry preserves and violet behind. – September 2015 (Josh Raynolds)

2011 Ingenuity

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
55% Syrah | 17% Grenache | 15% Mourvèdre | 13% Petite Sirah
Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks, French oak puncheons, and one-ton bins
Aged 17 months in 45% new French oak
974 cases produced | unfined and unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 95
The 2011 Ingenuity is 55% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre and the balance Petite Sirah. Aged in barrels and puncheons, it offers a gorgeous, seamless, layered and full-bodied style to go with notes of black raspberry, chocolate, spice-box and hints of pepper. I love the overall purity here, and it’s incredibly silky and polished on the palate, with fine tannin. Enjoy this beauty over the coming 7-8 years. – August 2014 (Jeb Dunnuck)

International Wine Report | 93+
It has a dark inky color with intense aromas and flavors of blackberries, blueberries, Asian spices, pepper, black olives, lavender and smoky mesquite notes. This is rich, powerful and concentrated, yet there is underlying acidity which provides a sense of vibrancy to the wine. The finish is layered and polished, leaving a generous coating of delicious dark fruits and spices. While this is approachable upon release it is sure to age well for those willing to wait. (Best 2015-2026)  – April, 2014 (Joe D’Angelo)

Vinous | 93
Dark purple. Sexy smoke- and spice-accented aromas of black and blue fruits and potpourri, with a suggestion of incense building with air. Lush and expansive in the mouth, offering deeply pitched but lively cassis and mulberry flavors and a suave floral pastille nuance. The spice and floral notes come back strong on the finish, framed by smooth, harmonious tannins. – November 2013 (Josh Raynolds)

Wine Enthusiast | 93 & Cellar Selection
It’s another inky Rhône monster with aging potential from Epoch and their historic Paderewski Vineyard.  This Syrah-led blend throws off inviting aromas of black cherry pie, violet, fennel and balsamic vinegar reduction.  Once sipped, layers of flavor emerge steadily, with blackberry fruit roll-up, wet pipe tobacco, candied nuts, lingering herbs and a slight vanilla finish.  Serve with osso buco or otherwise roasted pork. – September 2014 (Matt Kettmann)

Wine Spectator | 92
Delivers a graceful, harmonious mix of dark berry, cedar, raspberry and licorice flavors, supple in texture and lingering on the finish, gaining depth and nuance. Drink now through 2022. – April 2014 (James Laube)

Aspen Times
A SGM – Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre blend witha  bit of Petite Sirah for good measure – this dark beauty is racy with solid acid and hints of spice and soil… Epoch is a name to remember as you head for the coast. – December 2014 (Kelly Hayes)

2010 Ingenuity

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
92% Tempranillo | 8% Grenache
Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks, and French oak puncheons
Aged for 20 months in 82% New French Oak
268 cases produced

International Wine Report | 94
The 2010 Ingenuity is a blend of 62% Syrah, 14% Mourvedre, 12% Grenache and 12% Petite Sirah sourced from the Paderewski Vineyard.  It is dense, powerful and focused, offering aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries and cherries, along with spices, peppered beef, chocolate, mint and hints of vanilla bean. Richly textured with deep layers of intense flavors that are constantly unfolding, working their way into the long lasting finish.  This spent 20 months in french oak barrels and puncheons.  The Ingenuity is a remarkable blend, that should last well into the next decade. Best 2014-2025 – April 2013 (Joe D’Angelo)

Rhone Report | 94
A big step up from the Estate Blend, the 2010 Ingenuity is a knockout effort that checks in a mix of 62% Syrah, 14% Mourvedre, 12% Grenache and 12% Petite Sirah that was aged in 61% new French oak.  Gorgeous all around, with a lively, yet decadent bouquet of grilled beef, black fruits, licorice, and mineral, violets, and earth, it flows onto the palate with a full-bodied, rich texture, notable freshness, and a clean, energetic finish.  Already delicious and approachable, it nevertheless has the concentration, acidity, and tannin to evolve gracefully for 7-8 years.  – (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vinous | 93
Glass-staining ruby. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes dark berry preserves, licorice, smoky minerals and spicy oak. Offers concentrated blackberry, boysenberry and vanilla flavors and shows impressive back-end mineral lift. Gentle tannins add shape to the strikingly long, sweet, penetrating finish, with the spicy element carrying through. – November 2012 (Josh Raynolds)

Wine Advocate | 93
The 2010 Ingenuity is a knockout effort that checks in as a mix of 62% Syrah, 14% Mourvedre, 12% Grenache and 12% Petite Sirah that was aged in 61% new French oak. Gorgeous all around, with a lively, yet decadent bouquet of grilled beef, black fruits, licorice, mineral, violets and earth, it flows onto the palate with a full-bodied, rich texture, notable freshness and a clean, energetic finish. Already delicious and approachable, it nevertheless has the concentration, acidity and tannin to evolve gracefully through 2020.  – August 2013 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Wine Spectator | 90
Big, broad, rich and chewy, with dense, extracted dark berry, black licorice, anise and cedar notes. Rambunctious now, but will have tamer days ahead. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Petite Sirah. Best from 2014 through 2024. – November 30, 2013 (James Laube)

2009 Ingenuity

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
65% Syrah | 12% Petite Sirah | 12% Mourvèdre | 7% Grenache | 4% Zinfandel
Aged for 23 months in 42% new French oak barrels and puncheons
752 cases produced

Rhone Report | 95
A blend of 65% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah, 12% Mourvédre, 7% Grenache, and 4% Zinfandel, the 2009 Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity Paderewski Vineyard is utterly captivating stuff.  Possessing an inky purple color, it exhibits a complex, decadent array of smoky black fruits, underbrush, bramble, charred beef, and chocolate to go with a full-bodied, hedonistic palate that manages to exude fruit and texture, while at the same time holding on to a sense of elegance, poise, and class.  This brilliant blend has solid concentration, ripe tannin, and a very well done, classically styled, and tannic finish.  It needs plenty of air to show at its best, and should age effortlessly for 10-12 years.  – (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vinous | 94
A full-bodied, fleshy wine, the 2009 Ingenuity boasts loads of dark fruit, licorice, spices and new French oak, all of which come together in an expression of the Paderewski vineyard that is exciting and intense from start to finish. I especially like the way the 2009 fills out in all directions. Layers of black fruit, smoke and game saturate the palate in this large-scaled, opulent wine. Ingenuity is 65% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah, 12% Mourvèdre, 7% Grenache and 4% Zinfandel. – August 2012 (Antonio Galloni)

Wine Advocate | 94
A full-bodied, fleshy wine, the 2009 Ingenuity boasts loads of dark fruit, licorice, spices and new French oak, all of which come together in an expression of the Paderewski vineyard that is exciting and intense from start to finish.  I especially like the way the 2009 fills out in all directions.  Layers of black fruit, smoke and game saturate the palate in this large-scaled, opulent wine.  Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.   – (Antonio Galloni)

Wine Spectator | 92
Refreshing, pure, ripe and lively, with snappy blackberry and wild berry, mineral, cedar and sage notes, firming nicely on the finish where the tannins make a chewy presence.  Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Zinfandel.  Drink now through 2022.  – (James Laube)

2008 Ingenuity

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
61% Syrah | 17% Grenache | 14% Petite Sirah | 8% Mourvèdre
Aged 22 months in 32% new French oak barrels
415 cases produced

Rhone Report | 95
Wildly aromatic, with huge violet, bramble, pepper, and spicy notes, the 2008 Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity Paderewski Vineyard, a blend of 61% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 14% Petit Sirah, and 8% Mourvedre that was aged for 22 months in 32% new French oak, possesses stunningly pure black and blue fruits, full body, a seamless, gorgeous texture, and a very long finish.  As with this estate’s other ‘08s, this holds on to an elegant, balanced, pure character, and should have a solid decade or more of prime drinking.  – (Jeb Dunnuck)

Wine Spectator | 95
Pure, dense, rich and concentrated, with wonderful structure, delivering layers of dark berry, blueberry and wild berry flavors, with notes of spice, mineral, cedar and black licorice.  This firms on the finish, but still the flavors push through with a wonderful persistency. Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre.  Drink now through 2020.  – (James Laube)

Vinous | 93
The 2008 Ingenuity bursts from the glass with a rush of dark jammy fruit, spices, leather and licorice. It is at once opulent, yet beautifully balanced, with dazzling intensity in its fruit and soft, seamless finish. In 2008 the blend was 61% Syrah, 17% Grenache. The 2008 Ingenuity spent 22 months in French barrels, 32% new. – August 2011 (Antonio Galloni)

Wine Advocate | 93
The 2008 Ingenuity bursts from the glass with a rush of dark jammy fruit, spices, leather and licorice.  It is at once opulent, yet beautifully balanced, with dazzling intensity in its fruit and soft, seamless finish. In 2008 the blend was 61% Syrah, 17% Grenache.  The 2008 Ingenuity spent 22 months in French barrels, 32% new.  Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.  –  (Antonio Galloni)

2007 Ingenuity

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
46% Grenache | 43% Syrah | 9% Petite Sirah | 1% Mourvèdre | 1% Zinfandel
Aged 14 months in barrel with 75% new French oak
327 cases produced

Rhone Report | 94
The most structured and tannic of the releases, the 2007 Ingenuity is an interesting blend of 46% Grenache, 43% Syrah and 9% Petit Sirah with a dash of Mourvédre and Zinfandel thrown in for good measure.  On the nose, this has an almost funky earth slant and I thought there was more Mourvédre than there actually was.  Spiced meat, underbrush, leather and a little game notes are framed beautifully by serious dark fruit and licorice aromas.  The palate is even better and is full bodied, perfectly balanced and stacked with a mouth coating, rich texture.  The structure here is notable but the tannins are perfectly ripe and silky, making this enjoyable now. This is another winner to drink over coming decade or longer.  – (Jeb Dunnuck)

Wine Spectator | 94
Ripe, fresh and juicy, with supple blackberry, wild berry and black cherry fruit that’s spicy, balanced, complex and layered, ending with firm, integrated tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre and Zinfandel.  Drink now through 2017.  327 cases made.  – (James Laube)

Wine Advocate | 93
The 2007 Ingenuity (another intriguing blend of 46% Grenache, 43% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah, Mourvédre, and Tempranillo) has a dense ruby purple color and a slightly more reserved, restrained style when compared to the exuberant Veracity.  Much more delineation and minerality are present in this wine, which exhibits plenty of red and black fruit as well as note of graphite, crushed rock, and spring flowers.  The sweetness of the tannin and the seamless, silky integration of all the component parts are impressive, and the wine is capable of drinking well for another 5-8 years.  – (Robert Parker)

Vinous | 92
Inky violet. Powerful scents of boysenberry, cassis, cracked pepper and fruitcake, with a subtle undertone of violet oil. Very spicy in the mouth, displaying deeply concentrated dark fruit preserve flavors and velvety texture. The floral note comes back on the finish, which is tightly focused for a big wine and very persistent. This is pretty primary today and would benefit from decanting or a few years in the cellar. – November 2009  (Josh Raynolds)