Palate

Reserve Tempranillo is a thick mustache-wearing, seasoned wrangler with some sharp edges alongside layers of softness that have developed after years of patience in the barrel. Flavors of brown sugar, barrel spice, vanilla bean, sun-ripened red plums and dried tobacco leaves are so inviting and yearn for a cool evening curled up by the fire. Next to his Rhone cousins produced at Epoch, Tempranillo is a dark and swarthy foreigner, however we love him just the same and marvel and his idiosyncracies.

Growing Conditions

Parentage: Paderewski Vineyard

Stomping Grounds: One steep, west-facing limestone hillside

Paderewski Vineyard:

Travel just west of Paso Robles, and you will find Paderewski Vineyard: 67 acres of undulating, steep, limestone rich hillsides within 570 rural, spring-fed acres. In the early 1900’s, this vineyard was cherished and farmed by world-renowned pianist, Polish diplomat, and vintner, Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Fast forward a century, and this property stood forgotten and fallow. Lucky for us, in 2004, we became the stewards of this amazing piece of property.

Planted: 2004 Acreage: 95 under vine, 570 total Soils: limestone, calcareous, rocky pH: low to mid 8 AVA: Paso Robles District: Willow Creek Red Varietals: Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Zinfandel White Varietals: Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, and Viognier

Bottling

Graduation: Bottled April 24, 2015 | Debut: Released Spring 2016

Winemaking

Rearing: Fermented ~75% whole cluster in new French oak puncheons and stainless steel tank

Aging

Aged for 29 months in 88% new French oak barrels and puncheons

Food Pairing

Beef on the bone!