2009 Epoch “Ingenuity” Red Wine

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$64.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The last two vintages of this wine have received 92 and 95 points respectively from one Wine Spectator’s toughest and most respected wine critics. So expect nothing but a stellar bottle with this outing. The vinters/owners Bill and Liz Armstrong are both geologists and when they decided to segue into making wine, there extensive search pointed directly to Paso Robles where they purchased the Paderewski Vineyard. Nice choice, as were their consulting winemaker, Justin Smith, and winemaker Jordan Fiorentini (Araujo Estate, Antinori and Chalk Hill).

Rhone Report Tasting Notes (93-96 pts., Barrel Sample): “Inky and dense, but far from cumbersome, it boast awesome aromatics of smoked black fruits, charred meat, earth, and big minerality and chalky notes that emerge with additional time in the glass. This leads to a full-bodied wine that has serious structure and concentration, a focused, light texture, fresh acidity, and a superb finish that leaves the impression of liquid rocks on the palate. Bottles should be given 2-3 years of bottle age, and then consumed over the following 12-15 years.”

Blend: 62% syrah, 14% mourvedre, 12% grenache, 12% petite sirah.

“Wine Advocate” Tasting Notes: “The 2009 Ingenuity flows from the glass with gorgeous texture in its dark plums, licorice, flowers and French oak. It is an impressive wine endowed with gorgeous purity in its fruit and a striking, opulent personality. In 2009 the blend is 65% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah, 12% Mourvedre, 7% Grenache and 4% Zinfandel, but it is the Syrah character that speaks most loudly. I especially like the textural richness and volume here. The wine was fermented in concrete, stainless steel tanks and new French oak barrels, and spent 22 months in French oak, 42% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.”

“Wine Spectator” Tasting Notes: “Refreshing, pure, ripe and lively, with snappy blackberry and wild berry, mineral, cedar and sage notes, firming nicely on the finish where the tannins make a chewy presence. Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvdre, Grenache and Zinfandel. Drink now through 2022. 751 cases made.”

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