2020 Epoch "Block B" Syrah, Paso Robles, California, USA

ABOUT THE WINE
“Block B” is a micro-parcel within the famed Paderewski Vineyard, a rugged hillside site with calcareous soils in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. This west-side terroir, with its extreme slopes and limestone-rich soils, yields Syrah of formidable intensity and mineral complexity. The 2020 vintage was warm and dry, producing small, concentrated berries. Fermented with a significant portion of whole clusters using native yeasts, the wine was aged for 18 months in French oak—primarily used and once-filled barrels to highlight vineyard character over oak imprint. This Syrah is deep and multi-layered, showing black fruit, tapenade, bacon fat, and warm spices, with a core of crushed rock and lively acidity that keeps it vibrant despite its richness. Best paired with grilled lamb, smoked brisket, or mushroom risotto, and built to age gracefully over 10–15+ years.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Epoch Estate Wines is one of the leading estates redefining Paso Robles as a world-class region for Rhône varieties. Founded by Bill and Liz Armstrong in 2004, the winery draws from some of the area’s most distinctive vineyards—Paderewski, Catapult, and York Mountain—all farmed organically and with a precision usually reserved for Burgundy or the northern Rhône. Under the direction of winemaker Jordan Fiorentini, Epoch combines meticulous farming, low-intervention winemaking, and a strong focus on site expression. Fermentations are native, oak use is restrained, and each wine is crafted to reflect its unique block and soil. “Block B” is the most structured and muscular Syrah in the lineup—epic in scale, but grounded in a deep sense of place.