It has now been many years since I first tasted the wines made by the talented Jordan Fiorentini. Fiorentini has an Ivy League background and has now been at the Epoch helm for more than a decade. The wines she crafts show good depth and concentration but brilliant underlying finesse and terroir from the very stony and marine-soiled sites that she sources from. There is very good reason that Phillipe Melka began making a Syrah from the same site. Regardless of the vintage Fiorentini crafts wines that display power and poise — tell a story with a beginning, middle and an end.
I adored the new wines which come mostly from the 2018 vintage. Do not sleep on the 2018 Epoch ‘Authenticity’ Red Wine (OB, 95) which is powerful and deep, showing great cellaring potential. Learn more about these outstanding wines at epochwines.com. Here are the great new wines by Epoch.
2021 Epoch White Wine- A combination of mainly Grenache Blanc (47%) and Viognier (39%) with smaller parts Roussanne, the outstanding 2021 Epoch White Wine is another killer Rhone style blend by winemaker Jordan Fiorentini. On the nose this takes on honeysuckle and white peach notes that combine with flint and suggestions of Pink Lady apple. The palate is soft and refined, with great length, as this is drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2022-2027- 92
2018 Epoch ‘Authenticity’ Red Wine- A sultry blend of 90% Syrah with the remainder Mourvèdre all sourced from the Paderewski Vineyard, this spent nineteen months in 77% new feench oak barrels before bottling. This comes off dense and has a weightless effect mid-palate. Ripe boysenberry preserves, cigar ash and scorched earth notes combine with bright acidity on the palate. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2022-2037- 95
2018 Epoch ‘Block B’ Syrah- 100% varietal, this hails from the Paderewski Vineyard and sent nineteen months in 82% new French oak prior to bottling. Very inky in the glass, this shows off violets and black currant jelly alongside dark chocolate shavings on the nose. The more warmed up this get, the black florals both on the nose and mouth really begin to sing their high octane. Finishing long with rich dark fruits and copious minerals, this is exceptionally balanced, deeply concentrated Syrah that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2038- 96
2018 Epoch Tempranillo- Exceedingly dark considering the varietal, the 2018 Epoch Tempranillo has a small portion of Graciano, Syrah and Grenache co-fermented in, as this comes from Paderewski Vineyard and was stored in French oak for 29 months before bottling. Forward and juicy, his possess a great mineral backbone and firm tannins that hold everything together nicely. Rich dark fruits parade with milk chocolate and smoked brisket notes on the palate. This might be the first Tempranillo made in California. Drink 2022-2035- 95
2019 Epoch ‘Veracity’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Veracity’ blends 44% Mourvèdre with 43% Grenache and the remainder Syrah. Sourced from the Catapult and Paderewski Vineyards, this shows off beautiful red rose petals with cigar box, baking spices and suggestions of red currant preserves on the nose. The palate is very fresh and polished with a silky mouthfeel and beautiful core of red and dark fruits that greet you. Give this an hour of air if enjoying now. Drink 2022-2036- 95
2019 Epoch ‘Sensibility’ Red Wine- The outstanding, 100% varietal 2019 Epoch ‘Sensibility’ shows everything you would like in a great Paso Robles Grenache. Red cherry candy, kumquat rind, red raspberry and red rose water flavors all combine with the stony and mineral-driven undertones on the palate. Enjoy this outstanding wine now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2034- 95