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Epoch 2017 'Block B" Padrewski Vineyard Syrah, Paso Robles
4852995588178
$ 99.99
98 points
Epoch Winery is a phenomenal new label from Paso Robles. Limited.
98 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Along the same lines, the 2017 Syrah Block B is 100% Syrah from the Paderewski Vineyard. It's always a more masculine, powerful Syrah, and the 2017 is no exception. It delivers loads of black fruits, bloody meat, marine-like salinity and minerality, full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. This shows the sexy, ripe style of the vintage, and while it's a joy to drink today, it certainly has a solid decade of life ahead of it."
97 Points Antonio Galloni: "Inky violet. Expansive, spice-accented cassis, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral aromas pick up vanilla and smoky bacon nuances with air. Juicy, seamless and energetic in style, offering palate-staining, appealingly sweet black/blue fruit preserve, violet pastille, allspice and mocha flavors that become deeper as the wine opens up. The floral and mineral notes repeat emphatically on an extremely long, juicy finish that features mounting tannins and a touch of bitter chocolate. 27% whole clusters and 71% new oak."
95 Points Robert Parker: "The 2017 Block B is 100% Syrah from the Paderewski vineyard, where grapes are planted on limestone on steep slopes. It was aged 19 months in 71% new French oak barrels and puncheons. It has an opaque ruby-purple color and bursts with aromas of bacon fat, cassis and boysenberry pie with notions of graphite, spearmint and garrigue. The palate is full-bodied and fully fruited with a ripe, pixelated frame, and it finishes long with good freshness and nuance. 479 cases produced."
The proprietors of Epoch, the Armstrong family, have overseen the rebirth of a historic vineyard once owned by the philanthropist and musician, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. This site was dedicated to Zinfandel in the early 1900s. Prohibition put an end to that, but that vineyard is now one of three estate vineyards comprising this 95-acre project. One part of Epoch is near Peachy Canyon, a big chunk of it sits next to the Booker Vineyard, and the rest is on York Mountain. The ambition of the Armstrongs is to produce 100% estate wines, and of the 95 acres, 60 are planted with southern Rhone varietals, and the rest with Tempranillo. Saxum’s Justin Smith, who serves as a consultant, told me that he thinks the micro-climate is slightly warmer than his James Berry vineyard. The first releases, which I tasted, are exceptional, so this looks to be a promising new venture.
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