Epiphany Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah 2016
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine &
Spirits -
Wine
Enthusiast -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Opaque garnet color. Aromas of blackberry, black plum, black pepper, smoked meat, black olive, fennel, dark chocolate The palate is lush with notes of black plum, blueberry, blackberry compote, dark chocolate, anise, vanilla, baking spices, espresso.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
All Syrah from one of the great sites in the Central Coast, the 2016 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard spent 21 months in 57% new French oak. Wonderful purity of fruit, medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins, and complex notes of blackcurrants, spiced plums, bay leaf, cured meats, and exotic pepper all make for an incredibly compelling, layered, singular Syrah. This meaty, gamey Syrah would pass undetected in a lineup of top Cornas (although I think its pure California fruit might give it away). While approachable today, it will keep for at least 7-8 years.
-
Wine & Spirits
This feels effortlessly balanced. It’s fully ripe and yet hasn’t lost its beautiful savory accents—the bacon fat, the gingerbread, the smoky briary intensity that seems to have a gravitational pull on the dark cherry fruit. It’s velvety and gorgeous. Tri-tip, please.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Vibrant raspberry, blueberry and red cherry aromas leap from the glass of this elegant and refined Syrah, with faint hints of iris petals and thin mint for added depth. The palate is smooth and silky, with fine, well-integrated tannins and lively, saline-inflected freshness that keeps the palate lifted and the finish vibrant and enduring. Pepper and cola-like spice unfolds on the close.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby, the 2016 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah has a pretty nose of blueberry and boysenberry preserves, cassis, bacon fat, smoke, garrigue and lavender with a dense black fruit core. The palate is full-bodied and dense with lush black and blue fruits and tons of savory accents. The tannins are firm but ripe, and it finishes long and savory.
Founded by Eli Parker at the turn of the last century, Epiphany was at first intended as a creative outlet for the then adventurous winemaking son of Fess Parker. As the years progressed, Eli assumed the role of Brand Visionary, paving the way for winemaker Blair Fox to assume the enological reins at the winery. The Epiphany portfolio has become a highly coveted selection of mostly Santa Barbara County- designated Rhone-inspired wines, considered by leading critics to be a flagship producer from this vibrant growing region.
Epiphany has transformed into a leading, contemporary producer of Rhone-based and esoteric varietal wines from the Central Coast, and a meaningful representation of the second generation of the Parker family name, and their continued dedication to ultra-premium wine production on the Central Coast.
Sought after by chefs, sommeliers, retail buyers and consumers alike, the Epiphany brand has distinguished itself among the wine cognoscenti as a trustworthy, quality-oriented and forward-thinking wine brand.