2019 Epoch Tempranillo

The 2019 Tempranillo (which includes 6% Graciano, 6% Syrah, and a dollop of Grenache) reveals a dense purple/plum hue as well as a terrific nose of ripe plums, blueberries, sandalwood, baking spices, and cedar pencil. This medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, elegant Tempranillo has ripe yet building tannins, a great mid-palate, and outstanding length. It's another gorgeous expression of Tempranillo from Fiorentini that will drink incredibly well for at least a decade. Epoch continues to pull heavily from their estate Paderewski Vineyard, but they’re also releasing new cuvées from their York Mountain estate as those vines come online. I expect this trend to continue. Looking at the wines reviewed here, I was able to taste all their 2020s now from bottle, and they’ve clearly produced some of the top wines in this challenging vintage. If there’s any smoke in these wines, I was unable to find it, and they have remarkable purity in their aromatics and ripe, polished tannins. I was also able to go through the 2021s with winemaker Jordan Fiorentini, and there are some legit genius wines in here that are as good as anything out there. I’d wager these 2021s are some of the finest wines produced from this estate, and I can’t wait to try them again from bottle next year.

The 2019 Tempranillo is dark and floral with dusty raspberry and blue florals accentuated by cedary spice. It's soft textured with cascading violet and lavender tones that give way to crunchy red and blue fruits. This finishes with incredible length and potency, leaving a blackberry concentration that creates a chewy sensation.