Zinfandel
Generally 100% Zinfandel, yet in some vintages there might be a splash of Syrah, Mourvèdre or even Carignan for spice and texture. This wine pays homage to Ignacy Jan Paderewski who was the first to plant Zinfandel in Paso Robles.
Vintage Details:
2021
Varietal: 100% Zinfandel
Birthplace: 87% Paderewski Vineyard, 13% York Mountain Vineyard
Hometown: Paso Robles AVA, Willow Creek District
Birth Date: September 23 – October 14, 2021
Birth Weight: 27.0° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete tanks and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged 17 months in French oak mid-sized barrels (30% new)
GPA: 3.74 pH | 6.2 g/L TA | 15.3% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 16, 2023
Siblings: 311 cases
Biography: The 2021 Zinfandel is so inviting from the first sniff, captivating you immediately with huckleberry pie, blackberry jam, vanilla bean, and a delicious wild sage note weaving throughout. From its aromas you may think, “drink me now,” however, as soon as the wine hits your palate, it demands to be taken seriously. Darker notes of earth, brine, and black berries dominate the entry with more savory herbs, tar, and bacon voicing out alongside chewy tannins and, of course, great acidity. A force to be reckoned with and deserving of aging in your cellar, this Zinfandel has depth and gears you might not have thought possible of the variety. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Accolades: 98 points – Jeb Dunnuck, 93 points – Wine Advocate
2020
Varietal: 100% Zinfandel
Birthplace: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
Hometown: Paso Robles AVA, Willow Creek District
Birth Date: September 15 – 21, 2022
Birth Weight: 26.3º Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged 17 months in French oak mid-size barrels and puncheons (27% new)
GPA: 3.85 pH | 5.4 g/L TA | 15.3% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled June 10, 2022
Siblings: 461 cases
Biography: Boisterous and fun with an underlying elegance, the 2020 Zinfandel has it all going on. This wine gushes Paso Robles with its seesawing between bold, juicy black and blue fruits to savory herbs and coastal chaparral. Aromas and flavors co-exist equally as this wine hits all the senses and showcases bright acid as its predominant texture, keeping the wine lively and mouthwatering. Violets, licorice, vanilla, and white pepper join the parade to create a wine brimming with memorable perfume and character. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
2019
MY PROFILE
Parentage: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
District: Willow Creek | Hometown: Paso Robles
Stomping Grounds: One east-sloping limestone hillside Ethnicity: 91% Zinfandel, 8% Syrah, 1% Viognier
Siblings: 395 Cases Produced
MY STATS
Birthdate: September 18 – October 8, 2019 | Birth Weight: 26.1° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete, oak tanks, and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged 17 months in French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons (46% new)
GPA: 3.81 pH | 5.3 g/L TA | 15.0% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 4, 2021 | Debut: Released Spring 2022 | Prime Eligibility: 2023 – 2029
MY BIO BY WINEMAKER JORDAN FIORENTINI
Super bright, boisterous, mouth-filling, and undeniably delicious, this wine has a huge yum factor that is surprising given the elegance, nuance, and sophistication of the 2019 vintage – all of which this wine has as well. Sensation is full and round as soon as the wine enters and encircles the front palate, bursting with blue and black berry fruits and reverberating to the back palate. Black licorice, vanilla spice, cream, peppery notes, and resinous herbs join the fruit along with added texture which is accentuated alongside the wine’s vibrant acid.
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Scores: Jeb Dunnuck 95
2018
MY PROFILE
Parentage: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
District: Willow Creek | Hometown: Paso Robles
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Scores: Wine Advocate 96, Jeb Dunnuck 95,
2017
MY PROFILE
Parentage: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
District: Willow Creek | Hometown: Paso Robles
Stomping Grounds: One east-sloping limestone hillside
Ethnicity: 91% Zinfandel, 9% Syrah
Siblings: 456 Cases Produced
MY STATS
Birthdate: August 31 – September 21, 2017 | Birth Weight: 26.9° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in stainless steel tanks and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged 18 month in French oak mid-sized barrels and puncheons (35% new)
GPA: 3.56 pH | 6.1 g/L TA | 15.4% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 9, 2019 | Debut: Released Spring 2020 | Prime Eligibility: 2021 – 2026
MY BIO BY WINEMAKER JORDAN FIORENTINI
The beautiful, mouth-filling fruit of 2017 is ever present in this Zinfandel. However, there’s a remarkable freshness and purity that lets the vineyard in this 100% Paderewski blend shine brightly through that boisterous fruit and spice. With lively sensation moving from lush fruit to rocky texture and bright acid, there is a swooshing sensation around the palate as it reveals black and blue fruits, ripe mandarin orange, warm underbrush, resinous lavender, crushed rocks, fresh cream, and vanilla/ clove spice. This wine is hedonism practicing well-appointed restraint.
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Scores: Vinous 95, Jeb Dunnuck 94, Wine Advocate 93, Wine Spectator 91
2016
MY PROFILE
Parentage: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
District: Willow Creek | Hometown: Paso Robles
Stomping Grounds: One east-sloping limestone hillside
Ethnicity: 77% Zinfandel, 15% Syrah, 8% Carignan | Siblings: 235 Cases Produced
MY STATS
Birthdate: September 6 – 21, 2016 | Birth Weight: 27° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete tank
Education: Aged 18 months: French oak barrels and puncheons (28% new)
GPA: 3.67 pH | 6.0 g/L TA | 15.7% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 23, 2018 | Debut: Released Spring 2019 | Prime Eligibility: 2020 – 2025
MY BIO BY WINEMAKER JORDAN FIORENTINI
A complete show-stopper, our 2016 Zin moves beyond what we all classify as the limits of Zinfandel. Effusive and irresistible, the wine brims with juicy, sweet mandarin orange, crushed blackberries, mango, fresh thyme, chewy black licorice, white pepper, grilled meat and tannins like smooth milk chocolate. Revel in its long and chewy mid-palate and harmonious acidity. Sublime.
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Scores: Jeb Dunnuck 96, Vinous 95, Wine Advocate 93, Wine Spectator 92
2015
MY PROFILE
Parentage: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
District: Willow Creek | Hometown: Paso Robles
Stomping Grounds: Two northeast to southwest rolling limestone hills
Ethnicity: 97% Zinfandel, 3% Grenache | Siblings: 319 Cases Produced
MY STATS
Birthdate: August 31 – September 22, 2015 | Birth Weight: 26.9° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged 18 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (45% new)
GPA: 3.80 pH | 6.2 g/L TA | 15.2% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 3, 2017 | Debut: Released Spring 2018 | Prime Eligibility: 2019 – 2025
MY BIO BY WINEMAKER JORDAN FIORENTINI
Intricate and pensive, delicate yet decadent, this classy and refined Zinfandel speaks Paderewski Vineyard with its smoky reduction, fresh blackberries, bay leaf, violet and underlying minerality.
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Scores: Jeb Dunnuck 95, Wine Advocate 95, Vinous 94, Wine Spectator 93
2014
MY PROFILE
Parentage: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
District: Willow Creek | Hometown: Paso Robles
Stomping Grounds: Two northeast to southwest rolling limestone hills
Ethnicity: 83% Zinfandel, 10% Syrah, 4% Grenache, 3% Viognier | Siblings: 507 Cases Produced
MY STATS
Birthdate: August 30 – September 8, 2014 | Birth Weight: 27.3° Brix
Rearing: Fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks and 1-ton bins
Education: Aged ~ 18 months: 20% new French oak and 80% neutral oak
GPA: 3.77 pH | 5.8 g/L TA | 15.7% Alc.
Graduation: Bottled May 16, 2016 | Debut: Released Spring 2017 | Prime Eligibility: 2017 – 2022
MY BIO BY WINEMAKER JORDAN FIORENTINI
One luxurious sip and this voluptuous, irresistible beauty will have you clicking your heels together and thinking “there’s no place like Paso.” All dark berry fruits reign supreme here – blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries – and have quieter accompaniments of roasted herbs, vanilla bean and barrel spice. She’s de nitely showy, but her billowiness is also her charm
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Scores: Jeb Dunnuck 96, Wine Advocate 94, Vinous 93, Wine Spectator 92
2013
Birthplace: Paderewski Vineyard
District: Willow Creek | Hometown: Paso Robles
Stomping Grounds: Bred off of one northeast facing limestone hillside
MY PROFILE
Ethnicity: 85% Zinfandel, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, 3% Tempranillo
Gender: Male | Eye Color: Black | Hair Color: Dark Brown | Body Shape: Tall and lean
Aspirations: U.S. President | Hobbies: Basketball and politics | Siblings: 352 Cases Produced
MY STATS
Birthdate: September 7 and 19, 2013 | Birth Weight: 27.3° Brix
Rearing: Fermented ~23% whole cluster in concrete and stainless steel tanks
Education: Aged for 15 months 34% new French oak barrels and puncheons
GPA: 3.77 pH | 5.2 g/L TA | 15.7% Alc. | Major: Business | Minor: Economics
Graduation: Bottled February 2015 | Debut: Released Fall 2015 | Liberation: Rocking votes from 2016 – 2023
MY BIO BY WINEMAKER JORDAN FIORENTINI
He didn’t go to prep school nor did any of his relatives go to college. He’s the first college grad of his family and from an Ivy League school no less. The 2013 Zinfandel is an inspirational story – where he’s from (the wrong side of the tracks), where he is now and his potential for the future. With no hoity-toity shoes to fill, he is defining what it means to be a Zinfandel and setting a new bar for what Zins can be – boisterous, charismatic and just down right irresistible aromatically, yet complex, layered and crying for cellar age on the palate. Who knows, he might be seen at dinner in the White House one day. He is a true example of the American Dream.
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Scores: Wine Advocate 95
2012
Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
96% Zinfandel | 2% Mourvèdre | 2% Syrah
Fermented in concrete tanks and one-ton bins
Aged for 16 months in 35% new French oak barrels and puncheons
269 cases produced | unfined and unfiltered
Confucius says “Study the past if you would define the future.” Ignaci Jan Paderewski was onto something when he planted Zinfandel in the limestone hills on our property back in the 1920s. He knew then what we are finding out now – how complex and world-class America’s grape can be! Our 2012 Zinfandel wows the senses with lush huckleberry, cream and warm briar notes, yet quickly shows more character depth with elegant structure and that special earthiness bred from our Paderewski Vineyard. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Scores: Wine Advocate 94, International Wine Report 93, Wine Spectator 92
2011
Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
80% Zinfandel | 14% Syrah | 6% Tempranillo
Fermented in 75% concrete tanks and 25% French oak puncheons
Aged 16 months in 30% new French oak
199 cases produced | Unfined and Unfiltered
A cornucopia of flavors – blackfruits, white pepper spice, dried herbs, rock minerals – all funneling into the middle of your palate. This is one of those wines that fills your mind with thousands of thoughts in one second. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Scores: Wine Advocate 94, Vinous 93, Wine Spectator 91
2010
Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
83% Zinfandel | 14% Syrah | 3% Tempranillo
Aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak barrels and puncheons
129 cases produced
A beautifully-sloped east facing hillside at our Paderewski Vineyard is mecca for our Primitivo clone of Zinfandel. Year in and out our Zinfandel walks a delicate line of intense lushness and a site-driven nuance, two traits that seem mutually exclusive until you meet this wine. The 2010 Zinfandel is boisterous upfront, with striking boysenberry and berry brush character. And then delicious layers unfold – candied lavender, dried summer brush, black licorice and smooth chocolate. As the wine plays on the tongue you will find the definition of velvety tannin. – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Scores: Jeb Dunnuck 94, Rhone Report 94, Vinous 93, Wine Advocate 93, Wine Spectator 92
2009
Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
94% Zinfandel | 6% Mourvèdre
Aged for 20 months in 30% new French oak
209 cases produced
Our 2009 Zinfandel possesses all the delicious, bold American-ness of the variety but slightly refined as if dressed up for a black-tie event. We added a small amount of Mourvedre (6%) to this single block of Primitivo clone 3 Zinfandel to lengthen the mid palate and extend its palate with fine-grained tannins. High-toned red fruits, dried coastal brush and white pepper lend way to a palate packed with fruit, vanilla spice and hint of savory meat. This finely structured Zinfandel lingers on the finish – don’t be afraid to serve it to your old world wine-loving friends! – Jordan Fiorentini, Winemaker
Scores: Jeb Dunnuck 94, Rhone Report 94, Vinous 94, Wine Advocate 94, Wine Spectator 93
2008
Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles
100% Zinfandel
Aged 12 months in 60% new French oak barrels
114 cases produced
An elegant Zinfandel with roots in history. Paying homage to the first Zinfandel vines planted by Ignacy Jan Paderewski on our Paderewski Vineyard, Epoch’s 2008 Zinfandel is intensely aromatic, rich, bold and luxurious. Aromas of sun-drenched bay leaves, concentrated huckleberries, and brown spice lead to a supple yet mouth-watering palate loaded with explosive blueberry fruit, tangerine, fresh lavender and clove. Drink now or with 5-10 years of cellar age.
Scores: Vinous 91, Wine Spectator 91
