Veracity
2021 Veracity
43% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, 23% Syrah
$75 / 750mL
99 points, Wine Enthusiast; 98 points, Jeb Dunnuck
Our nod to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this Grenache-based blend embraces its status as a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) with elegance, panache, and a consistent sunny-ness that reminds Owner, Bill Armstrong, of the wines from the Southern Rhone – wines that inspired him to start this crazy Epoch journey in the first place.
Read More
In the spring of 2015, after much dreaming and planning, we began planting vines at this “cool climate” site (colder than Burgundy). Located just seven miles from the Pacific Ocean at an elevation of 1,500 feet, this property falls in the small 640 acre York Mountain AVA, which is outside of the very large Paso Robles AVA.
The soils and climate are very different than our other two vineyards. The combination of sandstone soils (some areas look like you are on the beach) with a very moderate climate due to the even closer proximity to the Pacific Ocean make this site quite the departure from our Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards. Because of its elevation and distance from the ocean, York Mountain receives more than twice the amount of rainfall as our other vineyards and has characteristic foggy mornings throughout the year with cool breezes all day long.
When deciding what to plant, we wanted to keep with what we know and love best, but we also decided to experiment a bit too. We planted mostly Syrah and Grenache with the hopes of crafting pure varietal expressions of these two Rhône grapes on our very different terroir. In addition, we grow a small amount of Viognier, Roussanne, Zinfandel, and for the first time ever, Cabernet. We love the spice, fresh fruit, and bright acidity York Mountain Vineyard brings out in these varieties.
Vintage Details:
2021
Varietal: 43% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, and 23% Syrah
Vineyard: 73% Paderewski, 14% York Mountain, and 13% Catapult Vineyards (Paso Robles, Willow Creek District)
Birth Date: September 29 – October 18, 2021
Rearing: Fermented predominantly in concrete tanks with a fraction in oak tank
Education: Aged 17 months in French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons (20% new).
Birth Weight: 26.5º Brix
pH: 3.75 | TA: 6.0 g/L | Alcohol: 14.9%
Bottling Date: May 16, 2023
Cases Produced: 908
Release Date: Spring 2024
Biography: Blurring the lines between old world and new world wine, our 2021 Veracity will send Rhône fanatics on a mind-blowing flavor adventure. Starting savory and deep with notes of umami, roasted meat, wet earth, creosote, and gun powder, this wine broadens in dimension with fruit and spice – white pepper, black raspberry, huckleberry, wild sage – adding notes of violets, black licorice, and pencil shavings. These complex flavors intermingle as the wine enters round and full, encircling the front and mid palate, smoothly leading to long, chewy tannins that linger on the finish.
Accolades: 99 points, Wine Enthusiast
2019
Varietals:44% Mourvèdre, 43% Grenache, 13% Syrah
Birthplace: 58% Paderewski, 35% Catapult, and 7% York Mountain Vineyards
Hometown: Paso Robles AVA, Willow Creek District
Siblings: 1,240 Cases Produced
Birthdate: September 19 – October 22, 2019
Birth Weight: 26.1° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks
Education: Aged 17 months in French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons (37% new)
GPA: 3.81 pH | 5.0 g/L TA | 15.1% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 17, 2021
Biography: With so much obvious freshness, minerality, and elegance, you may be surprised to learn that our 2019 Veracity did not age in any concrete, only a myriad of various sized barrels (37% new). Texturally, this wine feels like biting into a perfectly ripe, fleshy black cherry. The palate is chewy, mouth-filling, and round, yet never too heavy or tannic in any one spot. Integrated, bright acid keeps the wine’s motion in an ascending sensation. Black cherry aromas and flavors abound alongside notes of forest floor, wet soil, thyme, sweet tobacco, blood orange, and violets and finish with dark chocolate, pencil shavings, and black pepper.
Accolades: 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck
2018
Varietals: 48% Mourvèdre, 39% Grenache, 13% Syrah
Birthplace: 80% Paderewski, 13% Catapult, and 7% York
Mountain Vineyards
Hometown: Paso Robles AVA, Willow Creek District
Siblings: 1,273 Cases Produced
Birthdate: September 11 – October 16, 2018
Birth Weight: 26.3° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks
Education: Aged 18 months: 19% in concrete tulip and the balance in French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons (28% new)
GPA: 3.56 pH | 5.8 g/L TA | 15.0% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 17, 2021
Biography: With so much obvious freshness, minerality, and elegance, you may be surprised to learn that our 2019 Veracity did not age in any concrete, only a myriad of various sized barrels (37% new). Texturally, this wine feels like biting into a perfectly ripe, fleshy black cherry. The palate is chewy, mouth-filling, and round, yet never too heavy or tannic in any one spot. Integrated, bright acid keeps the wine’s motion in an ascending sensation. Black cherry aromas and flavors abound alongside notes of forest floor, wet soil, thyme, sweet tobacco, blood orange, and violets and finish with dark chocolate, pencil shavings, and black pepper.
Accolades: 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck
2017
Varietals: 47% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, 19% Syrah
Parentage: 90% Paderewski and 10% Catapult Vineyards
District: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 870 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 31 – October 10, 2017
Birth Weight: 26.5° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks
Education: Aged 18 months: 36% in concrete tulip and the balance in French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons (26% new)
GPA: 3.70 pH | 5.6 g/L TA | 15.4% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 7, 2019
Biography: This wine resides in the place where the forest, the ocean, and the hillside berry patch meet. With air, the wine opens up to create a lush, full, and energized palatial experience that is constantly see-sawing between the sweet and savory: roasted game, grilled herbs, damp forest floor, purple-berried fruit, sun-warmed lavender, kalamata, and black olive. She’s a hunter-gatherer and shows us how unforgettable and meaningful Mourvèdre from West Paso can be.
Accolades: 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 96 points, Vinous; 94 points, Wine Advocate
2016
Varietals: 51% Mourvèdre, 36% Grenache, 13% Syrah
Birthplace: 78% Paderewski and 22% Catapult Vineyards
District: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 851 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 31 – September 27, 2016
Birth Weight: 26.7° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, oak, and stainless steel
Education: Aged 17 months: 28% in concrete tulip and the balance in French oak barrels and puncheons (32% new)
GPA: 3.68 pH | 5.9 g/L TA | 15.5% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 24, 2018
Biography: In our game-changing 2016 Veracity, Mourvèdre outnumbers Grenache (51 to 36%) as this blend’s new leading lady. Time and time again, Mourvèdre adds elegance and gravitas to our beloved GSM, and it has finally tipped the scales. Ephemeral, smooth yet lively, the 2016 Veracity offers flavors of red raspberries, honeydew melon, rhubarb, grilled herbs, lavender, fennel, navel orange and forest dew. The wine’s texture, minerality and acid are beautifully in balance, creating a remarkable weight and energy on the palate.
Accolades: 98 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 98 points, Vinous; 95 points, Wine Enthusiast; 93 points, Wine Advocate; 93 points, Wine Spectator
2015
Varietals: 47% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre, 19% Syrah
Parentage: 52% Paderewski and 48% Catapult Vineyards
District: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 866 Cases Produced
Birthdate: Sepetember 10 – 24, 2015
Birth Weight: 26.8° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, stainless steel, and oak tanks and 1⁄2-ton French oak puncheons
Education: Aged 18 months: 28% in concrete tulip and the balance in French oak (24% new)
GPA: 3.7 pH | 5.5 g/L TA | 15.4% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 2, 2017
Biography: Grenache and Mourvèdre are playing seamlessly together (with Syrah adding a bit of moral support) as they sing our in balanced chorus in this southern-Rhône inspired beauty. Sense the balance between concrete and barrel aging in the wine’s rock-licking minerality, gorgeous fresh berry and citrus fruits and fine tannin.
Accolades: 97+ points, Wine Advocate; 97 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 96 points, Vinous; 94 points, Wine Enthusiast
2014
Varietals: 66% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, 16% Syrah
Birthplace: 63% Paderewski and 37% Catapult Vineyards
District: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 875 Cases Produced
Birthdate: August 29 – October 1, 2014
Birth Weight: 27.0° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete tanks and 1⁄2-ton French oak puncheons
Education: Aged 18 months: 8% concrete egg, 24% new French oak and 68% neutral oak
GPA: 3.52 pH | 5.9 g/L TA | 15.4% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 17, 2016
Biography: This lush and vibrant West Paso Roblean GSM is unabashedly fruit driven, but don’t underestimate her age-ability and pensiveness. Upfront she is all red, juicy fruit and sweet orange, however, as she breathes in your glass, the intricacies, albeit idiosyncrasies, of a Grenache-based GSM will entice you. Bursting with fruit, great delineating acidity, sun-drenched herbs and crushed rock minerality, she gets more complex with air and most definitely needs time in bottle.
Accolades: 95 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 94 points, Vinous; 94 points, Wine Advocate; 92 points, Wine Enthusiast; 90 points, Wine Spectator
2013
Varietals: 49% Grenache, 34% Mourvèdre, 17% Syrah
Birthplace: Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards
District: Willow Creek, Paso Robles
Siblings: 912 Cases Produced
Birthdate: September 3 – October 4, 2013
Birth Weight: 27.1° Brix
Rearing: Fermented ~27% whole cluster in concrete and stainless steel tanks, one-ton bins and 1/2 ton French oak puncheons
Education: Aged for 17 months in 32% new French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons
GPA: 3.63 pH | 5.7 g/L TA | 15.6% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled April 2015
Biography: Blended elegance. Like Scarlett Johansson in a straight jacket, the 2013 Veracity is barely revealing her obvious yet masked potential. If ever people say Grenache is not a serious grape, make them try this wine! Cellaring and decanting is not just for beefy Syrahs and Cabernets; with its bright acid backbone and vibrant peppery structure, the newest Veracity vintage is begging for patience. Earthy, foresty Mourvèdre grounds the boisterous fruit and adds weight and cohesion to the mouthwatering texture and chalky rock minerality.
Accolades: 95 points, Wine Advocate; 92 points, Vinous; 91 points, Wine Enthusiast & Cellar Selection; 90 points, Wine Spectator
2012
Varietals: 55% Grenache, 27% Mourvèdre, 18% Syrah
Hometown: Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks, one-ton bins, and 1/2 ton puncheons
Education: Aged for 17 months in concrete egg and 30% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Siblings: 920 cases produced
Biography: Serious wine alert! Beyond its vibrant youthfulness, there is a deep soul to the 2012 Veracity that will remind you of all the reasons why wine is wine. The aromas, flavors, acid and picante tannins all merge together to create a unique balance unto only this wine. Reminiscent of the Southern Rhone wines that inspired its inception, yet so obviously born of west Paso, this wine is only starting to reveal its true colors. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: 94 points, Wine Advocate; 94 points, Wine Enthusiast & Editors’ Choice; 92 points, Vinous; 91 points, International Wine Report; 91 points, Wine Spectator
2011
Varieties: 57% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 18% Syrah
Birthplace: Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
Rearing: Fermeted predominantly in concrete along with one-ton bins and stainless steel tanks
Education: Aged 16 months in 25% new French oak
Siblings: 651 cases produced
Biography: Grenache is the headliner in Epoch’s 2011 Veracity, a southern-Rhone inspired blend, showing the still velvety but also more muscle-y side of the grape in terms of structure and focus – think Lara Croft vs. Audrey Hepburn. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: 95 points, Wine Enthusiast & Editors’ Choice; 93 points, Wine Advocate; 92+ points, International Wine Report; 92 points, Vinous; 91 points, Wine Spectator
2010
Varietals: 69% Grenache, 23% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, 4% Counoise
Hometown: Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
Education: Aged for 18 months in 41% new French oak barrels and puncheons
Siblings: 589 cases produced
Biography: Epoch’s 2010 Veracity is a juicy, layered Grenache based GSM grown on the slopes of our limestone-studded Paderewski Vineyard. With its Grenache component fermented mostly in concrete, this wine’s minerality is subtly juxtaposed next to lush red fruit, citrus and white flowers – quite enticing. Many of the lots that make up this blend were expressive co-fermentations of Syrah with Grenache and Mourvèdre. Counoise also makes an appearance for the first time to add spice and bright strawberry elements. Don’t let Grenache wines fool you – they age just as well as Syrah and need time to open up. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: 95 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 95 points, Rhone Report; 94 points, Wine Advocate; 94 points, Wine Spectator; 92 points, Vinous
2009
Varietals: 36% Grenache | 32% Syrah | 32% Mourvèdre
Hometown: Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
Education: Aged for 20 months in 38% new French oak
Siblings: 374 cases produced
Biography: Elegant yet approachable, the 2009 Veracity will charm the Rhone fanatic as well as the curious newcomers. It is a pure and seamless ‘GSM’ blend with almost equal parts Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre that shows the brilliance and finesse of Rhone grapes from our Paderewski Vineyard. This wine possesses bright, aromatic and mouth-watering tangerine citrus notes that pop out of the glass and linger through the finish – most likely a product of its Grenache component. In addition, hints of rose petals, dried brush, red raspberry and vanilla are just a few more elements that combine in this velvety-textured Rhone drink. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck; 94 points, Rhone Report; 93 points, Vinous; 93 points, Wine Spectator; 92 points, Wine Advocate
2007
Varietals: 48% Grenache, 39% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah
Hometown: Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
Education: Aged 14 months in 65% new French oak barrels
Siblings: 181 cases produced
Biography: A beautiful expression of Grenache… floral-laced fruit, spice and velvety texture. One of our three Rhone-based blends, Veracity is Epoch’s exuberant and voluptuous ‘GSM’ blend, loaded with floral-laced fruit, spice and velvety texture. The 2007 Veracity shows inviting aromas of sweet citrus flower, candied orange peel, black raspberry and sassafras leading to a bright and soft, lush palate with intense berry fruit and cigar box spices. Beautifully perfumed with a fruit-forward and rich mouthfeel, this wine will make a Grenache-drinker out of anybody. Drink now or with 5-10 years cellar age.
Accolades: 94 points, Wine Advocate; 93 points, Rhone Report; 92 points, Wine Spectator; 90 points, Vinous
