Epiphany Cellars

Bankrolling a purchase of 714 acres in Santa Barbara’s prime Santa Ynez Valley with proceeds from his Hollywood career - he charmed the masses as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone - Fess Parker changed the landscape of that region long before the Rocky Horror Picture Show-like Sideways cultists swarmed the place. Along with daughter Ashley and son Eli, he became the first major player in the area’s early wine industry, leading the way not only in bringing an international spotlight to the potential of the area’s wines but also in setting the standards for winery hospitality. The Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard now farms over 700 acres on four vineyards throughout the county, and produces Frontier Red, Parker Station, Fortress Vineyards, and this Epiphany Cellars label.

This Rhone blend (primarily Grenache and Syrah) is bright opaque ruby with slow-moving colored legs. On the nose it has notes of cranberry, mineral, mocha, and dark chocolate, not unlike the French Vin Doux Naturel, Banyuls, or Port. On the palate it is viscous and chewy with dark berry, dark chocolate, mocha, hazelnut, peanut, and toasted cashew notes.

Reviewed July 18, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.