2019 Epoch Ingenuity

The 2019 Ingenuity checks in as 71% Petite Sirah, 14% Mourvèdre, 12% Grenache, and a splash of Syrah. It's another beautiful, elegant, yet powerful wine from Fiorentini offering tons of ripe black fruits, notes of ground pepper, chocolate, and graphite, medium to full body, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It has plenty of up-front appeal, yet there's a focused, firmed edge here that makes me suspect it will be even better with just a year or so in bottle. I was able to taste three vintages from winemaker Jordan Fiorentini. Looking first at the 2019s, these are classic, rich, powerful wines that have tons of character and, if anything, are a step up over the 2018s. While still in barrel, I was pretty much blown away by Jordan’s 2020s, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see these end up being some of the wines of the vintage. While there are many subtly smoke tainted wines in this challenging vintage, I found these 2020s to be smoke-free and beautifully balanced. The 2021s appear to be a step up, and while they have classic Paso Robles richness and depth, they shine for their purity and elegance.