Palate

Whether you are Tempranillo fan or not, this Spaniard will have you by the heartstrings. Epoch’s 2014 Tempranillo is so well rounded, so delicious while still staying true to the flavors and textures of the Tempranillo grape. A consistent round of tannins stuff the mouth and keep the wine turning from front to back, filling your palate with dried cherries, red plum, Christmas and barrel spices, smoked and cured meats and sweet tobacco. Minerality and bright acidity keep the wine from ever seeming too overpowering. Big tannin in balance seems like an oxymoron but not in this bottle!

Growing Conditions

Parentage: 72% Paderewski and 28% Catapult Vineyards

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

Catapult Vineyard:

Directly in the heart of the Paso Robles’ Templeton Gap, near the acclaimed L’Aventure and Booker Vineyards, sits our Catapult Vineyard. In 2008 we came across 45 barren acres of extreme rocky soils packed with silicious shale and little limestone content. Just the type of soils we love; soils that encourage the vines to struggle while finding nourishment deep within the ground. The reward of this hardworking vine are berries packed with wicked complexity and intense flavors.

Though barely three miles from our Paderewski Vineyard, the pH level at Catapult Vineyard is in the high 5’s. A nice complement to the dirt over at “Rewski”. This pH difference, coupled with the cooler mesoclimate at Catapult allows for different flavor profiles from the fruit produced.

Planted: 2008 Acreage: 28 under vine, 45 total Soils: shale, clay, silt, rocky pH: high 5s AVA: Paso Robles District: Willow Creek Red Varietals: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Tempranillo White Varietals: Grenache Blanc,Roussane, and Viognier

Bottling

Graduation: Bottled August 17, 2016 | Debut: Released Fall 2017

Winemaking

Rearing: Fermented in stainless steel and concrete tanks

Aging

Aged 20 months in new French oak barrels and puncheons (58% new)

Food Pairing

Smoked meat