2012 Epoch "Authenticity - Paderewski Vineyard" Paso Robles Rhône Blend

The estate's Syrah/Mourvedre blend, the 2012 Authenticity Proprietary Red is 71% Syrah, 28% Mourvedre and 1% Viognier that saw 58% whole clusters and 18 months in 51% new French oak. It has terrific purity in its ripe, decadently styled bouquet of blackberries, creamy licorice and smoked herbs. Possessing a wealth of raw material on a full-bodied, thick and rich palate, it has a clean and lively mouthfeel with sweet tannin and a chalky minerality on the finish. (JD) (8/2015)

Inky purple. Ripe dark berry and spicecake aromas are complemented by notes of cola, licorice and candied violet. Supple and precise, showing excellent depth to its sweet blackberry and cherry liqueur flavors. A mineral quality emerges with air and carries through a gently tannic, extremely persistent finish. Operations here have been moved from rented space at Denner to a large, airy facility on York Mountain, a few miles east of Paso Robles, which has taken winemaker Jordan Fiorentini out of the often chaotic atmosphere of the former locale. Fiorentini told me that she continues to refine the style of the wines that she makes here, pointing out that "ripeness is the least of our worries around here, but attaining finesse is always a challenge." While hardly shy in personality, the Epoch wines possess a degree of elegance that often catches me off-guard, and they are balanced to reward patience. (JR) (6/2015)

A big, robust style, with tiers of dense, dark, chewy fruit, built around blackberry, cedar, road tar and graphite notes. Ends with a wall of tannins, cloaked around the dark berry and chocolate flavors. (JL) (3/2015)