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2014 Epoch Estate Wines Sensibility

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

May 14, 2023 - $57

Estimate

RATINGS

97Jeb Dunnuck

Kirsch, blackberries, spice, dried flowers and incense notes all emerge from this sexy, thrillingly textured 2014 that shows the forward, sexy style of the vintage.

95+ The Wine Advocate

...expressive nose of crushed red and black cherries, black raspberries and roses with hints of Chinese five spice, black pepper and tapenade. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and oh-so-spicy, the palate has a firm yet velvety texture, with great freshness and a very long finish.

94Vinous / IWC

...bouquet displays scents of ripe red and blue fruits, incense and smoky minerals, along with a spicecake nuance that builds in the glass. Juicy, alluringly sweet raspberry liqueur and floral pastille flavors become fleshier and deeper with air while maintaining a refreshingly nervy quality. Seamless and pure, finishing with excellent persistence and harmonious tannins...

94Wine Enthusiast

Elegance, depth and power rise to the stage...packs in aromas of concentrated red cherry, turned loam, bay leaf and packed rose petals...mouthfeel is lavish at first, and then the tannins firm up, delivering flavors of cherry compote, orange rind and rosebuds. Zesty acidity runs throughout.

91Wine Spectator

Plump and ripe, but well-built, with expressive dark raspberry, smoky sage and licorice flavors that persist toward polished tannins.

PRODUCER

Epoch Estate Wines

Epoch Estate Wines in Paso Robles was established in 2004 by Bill and Liz Armstrong. The couple owns a major oil and gas business in Denver and they have long been interested in making Rhone-style wines. To establish Epoch, they purchased two historic Paso Robles vineyard properties. One was once owned by Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist, who fell in love with Paso Robles in the 1920s, bought property, and eventually made wine there. The other property was the York Mountain Vineyard, which was a source of grapes for winemaking starting in the 19th century. The Armstrongs replanted both vineyards and hired celebrity winemaker Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards as consulting winemaker. They also hired Jordan Fiorentini as the estate winemaker. Epoch currently has 95 acres of vineyards, with nearly 200 more acres slated for replanting. The estate makes red, white and rose Rhone blends. The wines earn ratings in the mid- to high 90s from reviewers including Wine Advocate, which has called Epoch “one of the up and coming estates in Paso Robles” and “an estate that goes from strength to strength.”

REGION

United States, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

Paso Robles AVA is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and it is considered one of the West Coast’s most exciting winemaking regions. With its hot, sometimes searingly dry and sunny weather, it is especially good country for growing warm climate grapes such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Because many Paso Robles wineries have been successful with blending these grapes into Rhone Valley-style wines, it is known as the Rhone zone of California. The AVA was created in 1983 and there are 32,000 vineyard acres. In late 2014 the AVA was divided into 11 smaller sub-appellations, so starting with 2015 vintages labeling will become more specific on Paso Robles wines, which will now also list sub-appellations. Located in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles, the town and its surrounding area, was traditionally a farming and ranching region. But from a few dozen wineries in the early 1990s to more than 200 today, the area is quickly becoming known for wine and risk-taking winemakers.