Palate
With its extra time in barrel, cigar box character abounds and is mixed with sweet tobacco, ripe red cherry, vanilla, roasted herb, sweet earth, and forest floor. A few hours in the decanter or several years in your cellar are a must before partaking on this structured journey across the palate that only Tempranillo can provide. You can feel the architecture of this wine and watch it soften as you check in on it over the next decade.
Growing Conditions
Parentage: 100% Paderewski Vineyard
Stomping Grounds: Rocky, calcareous, west-facing hillsides
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: May 5, 2021 | Debut: Released Fall 2021
Winemaking
Tempranillo co-fermented with Graciano, Syrah, and Grenache for a natural boost in acidity
Rearing: Fermented in stainless steel tanks and ½-ton puncheons
Epoch’s 2018 Tempranillo is a diversion from past bottlings – it has spent an extra nine months in oak, totaling 29 months overall, to help tame its tannins before they begin to age in your cellar.
Aging
Aged 29 months in French oak barrels and puncheons (54% new)
