Epoch Ingenuity Red 2020 (750ml) *
Product price
$84.99
Description
Petite Sirah takes the lead here, just over half the blend, joined by Grenache, Mourvèdre, and a splash of Syrah. This is Epoch's Ingenuity, a 2020 red from Paso Robles built on fruit drawn largely from their estate Paderewski Vineyard, then raised nineteen months in French oak barrels and puncheons, a portion of it new. It's a full-bodied wine in the warm-climate Rhône-leaning idiom this part of California does well.
Expect an opulent, fruit-forward style with real texture behind it. Ripe red and blue fruits lead, wrapped in spice, peppery herbs, and a note of sage, with a chalky, graphite-edged minerality running underneath that seems to follow this vineyard. The palate is lush and rounded, its tannins ripe and gently chewy, freshness holding the density in check through a long finish. Polished and generous, it drinks well now and has the structure to hold for several years.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Paso Robles |
| Producer | Epoch |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
Based on 51% Petite Sirah, 25% Grenache, 22% Mourvèdre, and a tiny bit of Syrah, the 2020 Ingenuity spent 19 months in French oak barrels and puncheons. It's a fruit-loaded, opulent 2020 with more sex appeal and texture than just about every other wine in the vintage. Ripe red and blue fruits, spice, peppery herbs, and some chalky minerality (which always seems to be present in wines from this vineyard) define the aromas and flavors, and it's full-bodied, has a lush, rounded mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Drink this beauty over the coming 7-8 years. 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. (Jeb Dunnuck, August 2023)
The 2020 Ingenuity is a blend of 51% Petite Sirah, 25% Grenache, 22% Mourvèdre and 2% Syrah that was matured for 19 months in 30% new French oak barrels and puncheons. It has bold aromas of wild berries, sage and floral hints, less expressive than its 2019 or 2021 counterparts. The full-bodied palate balances dense flavors with gently chewy tannins and rounded freshness, and it has a graphite-laced finish. Drink it over the next 3-5 years. 771 cases were made. (Wine Advocate, December 2023)