Estate Blend
Our Estate Blend provides a snapshot of Epoch vineyards and our specific winemaking practices within every vintage. Though Syrah consistently takes the lead, the exact blend of varieties varies from vintage to vintage. Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Tempranillo regularly play key roles in this wine with occasional cameos from Zinfandel and other varieties. It is totally Epoch!
Vintage Details:
2020
Varietal: 46% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 11% Mourvèdre, 11% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, 2% Zinfandel, 1% Carignan
Birthplace: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
Hometown: Paso Robles AVA, Willow Creek District
Birth Date: September 15 – October 14, 2020
Birth Weight: 26.5º Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, French oak puncheons, and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged 17 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (30% new)
GPA: 3.81 pH | 5.1 g/L TA | 15.1% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled August 5, 2022
Siblings: 1,246 cases
Biography: Starting off with savory roasted meats and herbs, the 2020 Estate Blend opens up to reveal juicy black cherry, black licorice, vanilla, violets, tar, and graphite flavors as it first flows across the upper palate. At the same time, lots of firm, thick tannins impact a more linear and serious structure to the wine, heralding the gifts cellar age will bring. Seven varieties harmonize in this wine to create a lasting impression of the unique terroir of our Paderewski Vineyard – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
2019
Varietals: 51% Syrah, 17% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 7% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 3% Carignan, 2% Zinfandel
Birth Place: 78% Paderewski, 11% Catapult, and 11% York Mountain Vineyards
Hometown: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 1,729 Cases Produced
Birthdate: September 16 – October 23, 2019
Birth Weight: 26.3° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, stainless steel, and oak tanks
Education: Aged 19 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (31% new)
GPA: 3.85 pH | 5.4 g/L TA | 15.1% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled August 3, 2021
Biography: Seriously dark and brooding on the nose, this complex, tightly-wound wine unfolds over time in your glass, revealing layers of dark cherry, pomegranate, roasted chantarelles, dark earth, black licorice, roasted red meats with herbs, and graphite. Red rose petals, barrel spice, and tobacco are present throughout and linger on the finish. The 2019 Estate Blend’s hallmark beefy texture overlays the flowing flavors as big structure sets in on the back palate and delivers a message that several to many years of cellar age will yield high returns when corks are pulled in the future.
Accolades: Wine Advocate 97, Jeb Dunnuck 95
2018
Ethnicity: 47% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre, 18% Grenache, 12% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano
Birth Place: 55% Catapult, 37% Paderewski, and 8% York Mountain Vineyards
Hometown: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 1,663 Cases Produced
Birthdate: September 13 – October 16, 2018
Birth Weight: 26.2° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in 1/2-ton puncheons and concrete, stainless steel, and oak tanks
Education: Aged 19 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (50% new)
GPA: 3.71 pH | 5.9 g/L TA | 15.2% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled July 15, 2020
Biography: The 2018 Estate Blend is a graceful, awe-inspiring expression of our red varieties at Epoch grown across all three of our vineyard sites – Paderewski, Catapult, and York – in the even-keeled, dreamy 2018 vintage. Brimming with concentrated dark plum and black cherry, savory roasted herbs and meats, earthy forest floor, lavender, chocolate, and vanilla, this wine is generous and harmonious in youth, but it is sure to age beautifully thanks to its balance of flavor and texture on the palate entry to finish
Accolades: Wine Enthusiast 98, Jeb Dunnuck 94-96
2017
Varietals: 36% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre, 14% Tempranillo, 8% Zinfandel, 4% Carignan
Birth Place: 66% Paderewski and 34% Catapult Vineyards
Hometown: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 1,673 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 30 – October 11, 2017
Birth Weight: 26.7° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless-steel tanks, 1-ton bins, and ½-ton puncheons
Education: Aged 18 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (40% new)
GPA: 3.71 pH | 5.7 g/L TA | 15.5% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled June 8, 2019
Biography: This wine is so integrated, even from an early age, that you will never guess it is a blend of five different varieties off of our Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards. The entry is full and lush leading to an über long and velvety midpalate which encircles the mouth. While we revel in its plushness, it never feels too heavy or thick as the cohesive acid weaves its way through the sensations of black licorice, black cherry and raspberry, grilled meats and herbs, candied lavender, rose oil, warm underbrush, and vanilla bean.
Accolades: Jeb Dunnuck 95, Vinous 94, Wine Advocate 93
2016
Varietals: 58% Syrah, 19% Mourvèdre, 17% Grenache, 6% Tempranillo
Birth Place: 64% Paderewski and 36% Catapult Vineyards
District: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 1,204 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 31 – September 27, 2016
Birth Weight: 26.8° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, oak, stainless steel and one-ton bins
Education: Aged 17 months: French oak barrels and puncheons (36% new)
GPA: 3.83 pH | 5.8 g/L TA | 15.6% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 23, 2018
Biography: Seriously sophisticated and rich in all the right places, the 2016 Estate Blend is one to enjoy in its youth but also to lay down for quite some time. Aromas of black fruits, roasted meats, dried tobacco and sage give way to a chewy, long mouthfeel, layered with black cherry, black licorice, graphite, vanilla and a dark chocolate texture. The brilliant acidity sends the wine singing high throughout its full and structured palate. Its fresh and refined youthfulness heralds the gifts this wine will deliver with several years in bottle.
Accolades: Wine Enthusiast 96 & Cellar Selection, Vinous 96, Jeb Dunnuck 95, Wine Advocate 94
2015
Varietals: 53% Syrah, 26% Mourvèdre, 13% Grenache, 5% Tempranillo, 3% Zinfandel
Birth Place: 61% Paderewski and 39% Catapult Vineyards
Hometown: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 1,345 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 28 – September 30 2015
Birth Weight: 26.8° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, stainless steel and oak tanks and 1/2-ton French oak puncheons
Education: Aged 19 months: French oak barrels and puncheons (48% new)
GPA: 3.84 pH | 5.8 g/L TA | 15.1% Alc.
Biography: The savory, the floral and the fruity all unite in our five-varietal Estate Blend that speaks to all of Epoch’s wine practices. This focused and seamless expression of our terroir shoots across the palate with notes of raw and smoked meats, black olives, roasted herbs, cherry, cassis, anise, lavender and vanilla dust.
Accolades: Wine Enthusiast 96, Jeb Dunnuck 95, Vinous 94, Wine Advocate 93
2014
Varietals: 36% Syrah, 36% Mourvèdre, 22% Grenache, 6% Tempranillo
Birth Place: 56% Catapult and 44% Paderewski Vineyards
District: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 1,924 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 21 – October 2, 2014
Birth Weight: 27.2° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, stainless steel and oak tanks and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged ~ 18 months: 31% new French oak and 69% neutral oak
GPA: 3.68 pH | 6.0 g/L TA | 15.6% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled June 13, 2016
Biography: Mouth-coating Syrah, earth-grounding Mourvèdre, fruit-driven Grenache and textural Tempranillo…this is your daily Epoch. 2014 Estate Blend shows full range of flavor – red plum, berry and surprising watermelon fruit flavors play the soprano notes while earthy, grounding elements of black olive, earth, sweet leather, brown spice and meat harmonize as baritones.
Accolades: Jeb Dunnuck 93, Wine Advocate 92+, Vinous 92, Wine Enthusiast 92
2013
Varietals: 32% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 10% Tempranillo, 8% Zinfandel
Birthplace: Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards
Hometown: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 1,753 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 26 – October 4, 2013
Birth Weight: 26.9° Brix
Rearing: Fermented ~17% whole cluster in concrete and stainless steel tanks, one-ton bins and 1/2 ton French oak puncheons. Many lots were cofermentations.
Education: Aged for 15 months in 33% new French oak barrels and puncheons
GPA: 3.69 pH | 5.8 g/L TA | 15.7% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled March 2015
Biography: Epoch’s 2013 Estate Blend has a lot to tell. He is the most politically correct child in the bunch, including almost every red variety grown on Epoch ground (with even a healthy dose of Zinfandel!). In addition, the individual barrel lots that make up his DNA are combinations of almost every vessel type we use at Epoch – concrete, oak puncheon, one-ton t-bins and stainless steel tanks. There’s a lot going on, and the wine reflects this with its mixture of red fruits, tobacco, leather, earth, vanilla, lavender, bright acidity and mouthwatering texture weaving in an out of each other. In his youth, you see all his different sides, but with time they will meld into one unique whole.
Accolades: International Wine Report 94, Wine Enthusiast 94, Vinous 94 Wine Advocate 92, Wine Spectator 92
2012
Varietals: 45% Syrah, 24% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 11% Tempranillo
Birthplace: Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks, one-ton bins, and 1/2 ton puncheons.
Education: Aged for 18 months in 44% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Siblings: 1,349 cases produced
Biography: Smell and sip our 2012 Estate Blend and channel your fondest cowboy or cowgirl memories – worn leather saddle, tobacco, dried fall leaves, plum, sweet soil – and this wine takes you there. Now, give your cowboy a scholarly side, and we’re approaching the complexity in this bottle. The wine enters with great juiciness (thank you, Grenache) and becomes very intricate by mid palate. Syrah and Tempranillo contribute ripe tannins on the finish to fill out the wine’s body. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: Wine Advocate 94, International Wine Report 93, Wine Enthusiast 93, Wine Spectator 92
2011
Birthplace: Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, Paso Robles
Varietals: 38% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre, 10% Tempranillo, 7% Counoise
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tan, puncheons and one-ton bins
Education: Aged 17 months in 47% new French oak
Siblings: 1,230 cases produced
Biography: Let’s all say a big warm ‘welcome’ to Epoch’s coming of age Catapult Vineyard, contributing 46% to our Estate Blend and playing very well with our Paderewski grapes (54% of the blend). More than serious enough to lay down for a decade but delicious enough to enjoy any night of the week. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: International Wine Report 92, Wine Advocate 91
2010
– Wine Spectator’s 25th Top Wine in the World for 2013
Birth Place: Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
Varietals: 56% Syrah, 26% Grenache, 11% Mourvèdre, 7% Tempranillo
Education: Aged for 18 months in 52% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Siblings: 1,719 cases produced
Biography: Tasting the 2010 Estate Blend conjures up memories of harvest 2010 at our Paderewski Vineyard. Being a combination of our estate-grown Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo from undulating exposures and alternating shale versus limestone soils, we see the personality of our site shine through over individual grape varieties. Indicative of the vintage, the fruit and tannin are beautifully ripe, yielding a plush, textured and lengthy wine weaving in and out of savory and sweet flavors: red plum, leather, savory meat, roasted herbs, chocolate and brown spice. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: Wine Spectator 93 & #25, International Wine Report 93, Jeb Dunnuck 92, Rhone Report 92, Vinous 92, Wine Advocate 92
2009
Varietals: 60% Syrah, 19% Grenache, 9% Tempranillo, 8% Zinfandel, 4% Mourvèdre
Birth Place: Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
Education: Aged for 23 months in 23% new French oak
Siblings: 1,368 cases produced
Biography: Our 2009 Estate Blend is a patchwork of different vineyard blocks and soil types on our Paderewski Vineyard. Predominantly Syrah combined with almost all the other red varieties we have on the estate, this wine gives a sweeping glimpse of the vineyard as a whole alongside all of our innovative and site-specific winemaking practices. Almost Bordelaise in character, this wine expresses savory and refined fruit character: dried leather, red cherry, tobacco, smoked game and brown spice. The five different varieties form a cohesive, expressive wine with great texture, length and longevity in bottle. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: Jeb Dunnuck 92, Rhone Report 92, Vinous 91
