2009 Epoch Syrah Block B
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Tasting notes
The 2009 Block B was made by Epoch's first winemaker, David Gelineck, and blended by current winemaker Jordan Fiorentini. Although there was a typhoon of 12 inches of rain this season, fruit for this wine was picked September 25-October 12, before the deluge. It was fermented in stainless steel and puncheon and aged 23 months in 43% new oak. Opaque in color, it's scented of black cherries and blueberries, with notes of coffee beans, tar and dark spices. The palate is full-bodied, lush and ripe, with concentrated dark fruits on the finish. It's a well-made Syrah with a bit less finesse than the more recent iterations. 182 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Block B (Syrah) is a huge, explosive wine loaded with personality. Violets, flowers, mint and licorice add considerable lift and freshness to layers of sumptuous dark fruit. The 2009 has an upper floral register and sweet inner perfume that is absolutely irresistible. The wine continues to open up beautifully with time in the glass.
Profound stuff, the 2009 Epoch Estate Wines Syrah Block B Paderewski Vineyard, from a cooler, north-east facing slope of limestone soils, is 100% Syrah that's aged for 23 months in 43% new French oak barrels and puncheons. Boasting phenomenal aromas of black and blue fruits, black pepper, licorice, grilled meats, and charcoal, this stunning Syrah is full-bodied and the most rich, decadent, and concentrated of the '09s. Impeccably balanced, structured, and with awesome concentration, this maintains superb definition and clarity on the palate, while staying light, fresh, and very easy drinking. Bottles should be given 2-3 years of bottle age, and then consumed over the following 12-15 years.
(100% syrah, aged in 43% new French puncheons, which measure roughly 320 liters, as opposed to a barrique's 225 liters; 15.9% alcohol): Glass-staining purple. Pungent aromas of cassis and blueberry, with slow-building smokiness and notes of dark chocolate and cracked pepper. Rich and broad-shouldered, with densely packed dark berry and bitter cherry flavors given spine by zesty acidity. Opens slowly with air to show a sexy floral quality, which lingers on the long, sappy, smoke-accented finish. This is still a baby.