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Ingenuity
2010 Ingenuity
62% Syrah | 14% Mourvedre | 12% Grenache | 12% Petite Sirah
Rhone Report 93-96pts (barrel sample)
A smoking barrel sample that looks to be every bit as good as the ‟09, the 2010 Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity Paderewski Vineyard will end being close to 62% Syrah, 14% Mourvedre, 12% Grenache, and 12% Petite Sirah with a number of the lots co-fermented. 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. -JD
2009 Ingenuity
65% Syrah | 12% Petite Sirah | 12% Mourvedre | 7% Grenache | 4% Zinfandel
Wine Advocate 93 – 95pts (barrel sample)
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. -AG
Wine Spectator 92pts
Rhone Report 95pts
A blend of 65% Syrah, 12% Petite Sirah, 12% Mourvedre, 7% Grenache, and 4% Zinfandel, the 2009 Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity Paderewski Vineyard is utterly captivating stuff. Possessing an inky purple color, it exhibits a complex, decadent array of smoky black fruits, underbrush, bramble, charred beef, and chocolate to go with a full-bodied, hedonistic palate that manages to exude fruit and texture, while at the same time holding on to a sense of elegance, poise, and class. This brilliant blend has solid concentration, ripe tannin, and a very well done, classically styled, and tannic finish. It needs plenty of air to show at its best, and should age effortlessly for 10-12 years. -JD
International Wine Cellar 93pts
(65% syrah, 12% petite sirah, 12% mourvedre, 7% grenache and 4% zinfandel; aged for 23 months in 42% new French barrels and puncheons; 16.1% alcohol): Bright purple. Black and blue fruits, licorice and cola on the highly aromatic nose. Becomes spicier with air, picking up allspice, star anise and black tea qualities. Rich but energetic in the mouth, displaying sweet dark berry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of candied violet. This sappy, precise blend finishes with excellent clarity and sweetness. -ST
2008 Ingenuity
61% Syrah | 17% Grenache | 14% Petite Sirah | 8% Mourvedre
Wine Advocate 93pts
The 2008 Ingenuity bursts from the glass with a rush of dark jammy fruit, spices, leather and licorice. It is at once opulent, yet beautifully balanced, with dazzling intensity in its fruit and soft, seamless finish. In 2008 the blend was 61% Syrah, 17% Grenache. The 2008 Ingenuity spent 22 months in French barrels, 32% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. -AG
Wine Spectator 95pts
Pure, dense, rich and concentrated, with wonderful structure, delivering layers of dark berry, blueberry and wild berry flavors, with notes of spice, mineral, cedar and black licorice. This firms on the finish, but still the flavors push through with a wonderful persistency. Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2020. 415 cases made. –JL
Rhone Report 95pts
Wildly aromatic, with huge violet, bramble, pepper, and spicy notes, the 2008 Epoch Estate Wines Ingenuity Paderewski Vineyard, a blend of 61% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 14% Petit Sirah, and 8% Mourvedre that was aged for 22 months in 32% new French oak, possesses stunningly pure black and blue fruits, full body, a seamless, gorgeous texture, and a very long finish. As with this estate’s other ‘08s, this holds on to an elegant, balanced, pure character, and should have a solid decade or more of prime drinking. -JD
2007 Ingenuity
43% Syrah | 46% Grenache | 9% Petite Sirah | 1% Mourvedre | 1% Zinfandel
Wine Advocate 93pts
The 2007 Ingenuity (another intriguing blend of 46% Grenache, 43% Syrah, and the rest Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, and Tempranillo) has a dense ruby purple color and a slightly more reserved, restrained style when compared to the exuberant Veracity. Much more delineation and minerality are present in this wine, which exhibits plenty of red and black fruit as well as note of graphite, crushed rock, and spring flowers. The sweetness of the tannin and the seamless, silky integration of all the component parts are impressive, and the wine is capable of drinking well for another 5-8 years. -RP
Wine Spectator 94pts
Ripe, fresh and juicy, with supple blackberry, wild berry and black cherry fruit that's spicy, balanced, complex and layered, ending with firm, integrated tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre and Zinfandel. Drink now through 2017. 327 cases made. -JL
Rhone Report 94pts
The most structured and tannic of the releases, the 2007 Ingenuity is an interesting blend of 46% Grenache, 43% Syrah and 9% Petit Sirah with a dash of Mourvédre and Zinfandel thrown in for good measure. On the nose, this has an almost funky earth slant and I thought there was more Mourvédre than there actually was. Spiced meat, underbrush, leather and a little game notes are framed beautifully by serious dark fruit and licorice aromas. The palate is even better and is full bodied, perfectly balanced and stacked with a mouth coating, rich texture. The structure here is notable but the tannins are perfectly ripe and silky, making this enjoyable now. This is another winner to drink over coming decade or longer. 327 cases. -JD
International Wine Cellar 92pts
($60; a blend based on 46% grenache and 43% syrah) Inky violet. Powerful scents of boysenberry, cassis, cracked pepper and fruitcake, with a subtle undertone of violet oil. Very spicy in the mouth, displaying deeply concentrated dark fruit preserve flavors and velvety texture. The floral note comes back on the finish, which is tightly focused for a big wine and very persistent. This is pretty primary today and would benefit from decanting or a few years in the cellar. -ST
