2016 Tempranillo

Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles

Jeb Dunnuck | 94-96 Barrel Sample
The 2016 Tempranillo is for patient consumers. Tons of black fruits, chocolate, and graphite notes all give way to a full-bodied, mineral-laced, rich, chewy red wine that has terrific depth of fruit, beautiful balance, and building structure. Hide bottles for at least 2-3 years, at which point it should cruise for a decade or more.

2015 Tempranillo

Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles
99% Tempranillo, 1% Grenache
Fermented in concrete, oak tank, and 1/2-ton new French oak puncheons
Aged 19 months in French oak barrels (60% new)
Released Fall 2018 | unfined and unfiltered

Jeb Dunnuck | 98
I suspect the finest vintage to date, the 2015 Tempranillo shows a more elegant, seamless style that’s reminiscent of some of the great Tempranillo releases from Spain. Tons of black fruits, charcoal, charred meats, and graphite notes all give way to a full-bodied red that has a weightless, seamless texture, building tannins, and a blockbuster finish. I haven’t had a truly aged Tempranillo from California, so I hate to push too hard on the aging curve (especially when it’s this good already), but I suspect this will have over two decade of longevity. Drink 2018 – 2028. November 2018 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vinous | 94
(aged in French oak barrels, 60% of them new, for 19 months) Opaque ruby. Powerful aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla, incense and candied rose, along with smoky mineral and licorice notes. Broad, fleshy and appealingly sweet, offering sappy boysenberry and cherry-vanilla flavors that firm up steadily on the back half. Rich yet vibrant in character, displaying excellent finishing clarity and smooth tannins that frame the wine’s densely packed, sweet fruit. Drink 2024 – 2034. September 2018 (Josh Raynolds)

2014 Tempranillo

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
90% Tempranillo, 5% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre
Fermented in stainless steel and concrete tanks
Aged 20 months in new French oak barrels and puncheons (58% new)
Released Fall 2017 | unfined and unfiltered

Jeb Dunnuck | 98
A total “Wow Wine!”, the 2014 Tempranillo is a huge, smoking good, rich and concentrated red that has loads of smoked earth, cedar, cured meat, blackcurrants, violets and licorice aromas and flavors. This smoky, rich, mineral-laced Tempranillo is a candidate for the top expression of the variety in the United States (I should put this up against Cayuse’s Impulsivo cuvée) and it has Full-bodied richness, beautifully concentrated, notable freshness and a great finish. I followed this bottle for three days, and it never showed a hint of oxidation, and I suspect it’s going to keep for two decades. However, if you have a bottle, drink it! – August 2017 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vinous | 93
Saturated ruby. Smoke- and spice-tinged red and blue fruits, woodsmoke and candied flowers on the highly perfumed nose. Coats the palate with appealingly sweet black raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors that are sharpened by smoky mineral and white pepper notes. Concentrated yet lithe, displaying excellent finishing clarity and fine-grained tannins that add shape and gentle grip. – November 2017 (Josh Raynolds)

Wine Advocate | 93
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Tempranillo is scented of red currants, mulberries, dried herbs and dusty earth with hints of tobacco and stewed tea. Full-bodied, with plenty of earth and red fruit layers, it has a firm structure of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and savory. This wine contains splashes of Grenache and Mourvèdre, and only 481 cases were made. September 2017 (Lisa Perotti-Brown)

2013 Tempranillo

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
87% Tempranillo | 10% Grenache | 3% Zinfandel (all non-Tempranillo varieties are from co-fermentation additions)
Fermented in stainless steel, concrete and oak tanks – all destemmed
Aged for 17 months in 41% new French and Hungarian oak barrels and puncheons
Released Fall 2016 | unfined and unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 95
Checking in at the top of the barrel sample, the 2013 Tempranillo (87% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache and 3% Zinfandel) is a structured, tannic, full-bodied and youthful red that has lots of darker berry fruits, crushed flowers, chocolate and savory spice aromas and flavors. I love its purity, but it needs 2-3 years of cellaring. – August 2016 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vinous | 92
Vivid purple. Fresh boysenberry, licorice, vanilla and spicecake aromas, joined by suggestions of succulent herbs and lavender in the background. Dark berry and bitter cherry flavors are complemented by deeper notes of chewing tobacco and licorice, and a touch of vanilla repeats on the back half. Closes sweet, supple and very long, displaying lingering spiciness and gently gripping tannins. – September 2016 (Josh Raynolds)

2013 Reserva Tempranillo

Catapult Vineyard, Paso Robles
78% Tempranillo | 22% Grenache
Fermented in stainless steel tanks
Aged for 35 months in French oak barrles (40% new)
Released Fall 2017 | unfined and unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 95
Deep garnet colored, the 2013 Tempranillo Reserve (aged a year longer in barrel than the straight Tempranillo) opens with notes of kirsch, baked blackberries and dried mulberries with touches of sandalwood, bay leaves, cloves and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, concentrated and seductively structured, the tannins have taken on a lovely velvety texture, framing the spicy fruit and contributing to the plush finish. – September 2017 (Lisa Perotti-Brown)

2012 Tempranillo

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
94% Tempranillo | 6% Grenache
Fermented in stinless steel tanks and French oak puncheons
Aged for 18 months in 66% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Anticipated Release Fall 2015 | Unfined and Unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 95
Looking back at a few previous vintages of the Tempranillo, the 2012 Tempranillo, which incorporates 6% Grenache, has an exotic complexity missing from the 2010 and 2014. Flowers, black raspberries, lots of spice and earth all emerge from this full-bodied, pure and youthful beauty that’s still young and primary. – August 2016 (Jeb Dunnuck)

International Wine Report | 93
The 2012 Tempranillo by Epoch is a blend of 94% Tempranillo with the rest Grenache which is sourced from the Paderewski Vineyard. This dense concentrated red wine begins with aromas of roasted prune, coffee grounds and black cherry with suggestions of boysenberry preserves. On the palare there are dense flavors of black cherries, black olive, blackberry pie and Turkish coffee which cascade into the long, layered finish. This is an exotic wine that shows best with a few hours of air contact. (Best 2016-2026) – May 2016 (Owen Bargreen)

Vinous | 92
Glass-staining ruby. Suave, expansive aromas of cherry compote, black raspberry and pipe tobacco are lifted by a peppery element. Sweet and lithe on the palate, offering sappy red fruit and floral pastille flavors sharpened by zesty spice and mineral notes. Closes silky and long, with no rough edges and gentle tannins building stealthily. This elegant wine channels Rioja, not Ribera del Duero. – September 2015 (Josh Raynolds)

2012 Reserva Tempranillo

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
100% Tempranillo
Fermented ~75% whole cluster in new French oak puncheons and stainless steel tank
Aged for 29 months in 88% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Released Spring 2016 | Unfined and Unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 95+
A new wine that saw an extended barrel elevage, the 2012 Tempranillo Reserve offers black fruits, leather, coffee bean and dried violet nuances to go with a rich, concentrated, stunningly textured profile on the palate. It has lots of polished tannin and will need to forgotten for 2-3 years. – August 2015 (Jeb Dunnuck)

2011 Tempranillo

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
92% Tempranillo | 6% Syrah | 2% Grenache
Fermented in concrete tanks and French oak puncheons
Aged for 17 months in 65% new French oak barrels and puncheons
297 Cases Produced | Unfined and Unfiltered

Wine Advocate | 95
The 2011 Tempranillo offers classic black cherry, cassis, licorice, cedar and big minerality in its full-bodied, concentrated and savory style. A blend of 92% Tempranillo, 6% Syrah and 2% Grenache, it shows more ground pepper and chocolaty nuances with air, as well as a serious tannic spice that will benefit from another year in the cellar. I haven’t tasted any aged example of this cuvee, but I’d be shocked to see it not show superbly at age 10. It’s one of the top examples of this variety coming out of California. – August 2014 (Jeb Dunnuck)

International Wine Report | 93
The 2011 Paderewski Vineyard Tempranillo is massive wine, notable for its power and intensity. It immediately offers up bold aromas of ripe black berries and black plums, laced with spices, violets and a savory character. This voluptuous red envelops your palate with layers of full-bodied richness, showing incredible depth and concentration. The underlying acidity balances everything out as it heads into the long, mouth coating finish. Composed of 94% Tempranillo with 6% Grenache which aged for 18 months in 66% new French oak barrels and puncheons. – (Best 2015-2024) – February 2015 (Jeb Dunnuck)

Vinous | 90
Epoch’s 2011 Tempranillo is a very pretty wine. The Tempranillo stands out from the rest of the range because of its firmer tannin and greater overall structure. Rose petal, violets and dark red stone fruits add lift on the finish. The 2011 is a solid effort, but it is also less exciting than the other wines in the range. A dollop of Grenache (8%) adds complexity. – July 2014 (Antonio Galloni)

Wine Enthusiast | 90
Densely purple scents of blackberry jam, plum, cola, cherry extract and dried violet syrup overcome the nose on this wine from a property once owned by a famous composer. The flavors are quite jammy, but given complexity by nuances of dark chocolate and espresso beans. Decent acidity and solid tannins will make this last. Drink 2018–2024. – August 2015 (Matt Kettmann)

2010 Tempranillo
The Wine Advocate: Jeb’s Best of 2013

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

Rhone Report | 96
Possibly the top Tempranillo coming out of California, the 2010 Epoch Estate Wines Tempranillo Paderewski Vineyard (92% Tempranillo and 8% Grenache that was aged in 82% new French oak) is a serious wine that needs to be tasted to be believed.  Deep and inky purple in color, with a spectacular array of blackberry, plum, liquid mineral, chocolate, and spice-box, it has full bodied serious feel on the palate, with superb mid-palate depth, integrated acidity, and ripe, yet chewy and savory tannin that frame the finish beautifully.  Given the fruit and texture, it is no doubt a superb drink now, yet it really deserves 2-3 years of bottle age, and has a solid 10-15 years drink window.  Impressive all around and worth the effort to seek out!  – (Jeb Dunnuck)

Wine Advocate | 96 & Jeb’s Best of 2013
Possibly the top Tempranillo coming out of California, the 2010 Tempranillo (92% Tempranillo and 8% Grenache that was aged in 82% new French oak) is a serious wine that needs to be tasted to be believed.  Deep and inky purple in color, with a spectacular array of blackberry, plum, liquid mineral, chocolate and spice box, it has a full-bodied, serious feel on the palate, with superb mid-palate depth, integrated acidity and ripe, yet chewy and savory tannin that frame the finish beautifully.  Given the fruit and texture, it is no doubt a superb drink now, yet it really deserves 2-3 years of bottle age and has a solid 10-15 year drink window. Impressive all around and worth the effort to seek out! Drink 2015-2025.  – August 2013 (Jeb Dunnuck)

International Wine Report | 94
The 2010 Epoch Tempranillo is a monster of a wine; powerful, dense and concentrated with intense aromas and flavors of dark fruits and crème de cassis layered in chocolate, spices, pepper, espresso and hints of licorice.  This demonstrates excellent structure and balance, ending in a long mouth coating finish laced with dark fruits and spices that carry on and on.  This is drinking fantastic right now, but also shows the potential to age; best 2014-2030  – December 2013 (Joe D’Angelo)

Vinous | 92
Epoch’s 2010 Tempranillo is fascinating. An exotic mélange of orange peel, smoke, pomegranate and iron flow across the palate in a powerful and distinctive wine loaded with personality.  It will be interesting to see if the 2010 develops further nuances in bottle.  Today, it is a decidedly powerful interpretation. – July 2013 (Antonio Galloni)

2009 Tempranillo

Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
100% Tempranillo
Aged for 23 months in 75% new French oak barrels and puncheons
447 cases produced

Rhone Report | 95
A real Wow wine, the 2009 Epoch Estate Wines Tempranillo Paderewski Vineyard, 100% Tempranillo that was aged for 23 months in 75% new French oak, sports knockout aromatics of black cherry and blackberry fruit, graphite, cedar, dried earth, and thrilling levels of spice and meaty characteristics on the nose.  This full-bodied, perfectly put together wine has a firm, focused texture, awesome tannin structure, good acidity, and a very long, focused finish. Gorgeous stuff and while the lack of a track record has me backing off the upper end of the drink window, I don’t see any reason this won’t age for 12-15 years or more.  – (Jeb Dunnuck)

International Wine Report | 94 & #13 Wine of the Year for 2012
Epoch has quickly developed a reputation for small production, hand crafted, wines with abundant personalities.  The 2009 Tempranillo from the Paderewski Vineyard is made in a modern style, aged for 23 months in 75% new French oak barrels and puncheonsis.  It has an opaque deep purple color and offers aromas of blackberry, smoke, violets, chocolate, spices, toast and well-integrated toasted oak all backed by a beautiful freshness.  Full-bodied, dense and concentrated with layers of flavors that are constantly evolving.  This wine will be even better in about 4-6 years from now, and has the potential to last for two decades. I t’s very exciting to see a Tempranillo of this quality coming out of Paso Robles and really hope to see lots more very soon. (Best 2015-2025) – November 2012 – (Joe D’Anagelo)

Vinous | 93
The 2009 Tempranillo emerges from the glass with sweet red cherries, flowers and spices, all supported by impeccable, silky tannins. This shows plenty of varietal character, but with the added of volume and breadth of Paderewski, a warm vineyard site. The Tempranillo was fermented in 500 liter barrels and also includes 5% Mourvèdre. – August 2011 (Antonio Galloni)

2008 Tempranillo

2007 Tempranillo

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)