“A strong effort from this famous Chicago wine importing family.” – Robert Parker

That’s how legendary critic Bobby P. described the second vintage of Episode.

By 2016, Episode leapfrogged its way into a MONUMENTAL effort on par with the likes of Opus One, Insignia, and Dominus. The Terlato flagship has the guts to compete with the very best. Not surprising, given it comes from the family behind Chimney Rock, and is made by the same skilled winemaker behind Harlan, Staglin, and other top tier producers.

Most days you’d need to liberate $225 from your wallet for a single bottle. In the Wine Spies, upside-down, wormhole vortex of pricing instability that drops to a more reasonable $79.

That’s almost $150 you KEEP. Or use it to buy not 1 but 3 bottles, because you’d regret not having done so.

Just read between the lines of the only review we could find. Eight years ago, Wine Advocate speaks of a youthful “full-bodied and richly fruited” wine and beseeches the reader to “give it 4-5 more years” for the peak drinkability window from 2023-2043.

We 100% agree that this Episode is just hitting its stride. This has certainly evolved after a long rest in the library and today it’s a big red lovers’ dream come true. With the “+” in the score showing stronger than the Force in Obi-Wan Kenobi’s apprentice days. We’d give it a solid 97 today.

Per Wine Enthusiast for one, “Terlato has mastered the art of crafting Bordeaux-style red wines that scream Napa Valley. The style is the modern one of exceptional ripeness, softness, and sweetness, generously oaked and slightly high in alcohol.” Which leads to what constitutes the blend. The majority of it comes from the Stags Leap District darling in the Terlato portfolio, Chimney Rock, with some prime Rutherford Hill barrels in there, to showcase the best of both worlds.

Then there’s the winemaking team behind it, Marisa Taylor is at the helm, under the careful consulting hand of Michel Rolland. Mind you, other projects worthy of his attention include Dalla Valle, Harlan Estate, Staglin, and Bryant. His magic touch is deeply engraved in this Episode.

93+ Points – Wine Advocate “The 2016 Episode Proprietary Red Wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens on an appealing cedary note, giving way to a core of baked black cherries, warm plums and cassis plus hints of cigar box, sandalwood, potpourri and star anise. Full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, the palate is carrying a lot of oak yet has the concentrated black fruit layers to hold its own, with a firm, chewy frame and long savory finish. Give it 4-5 more years for the oak to begin to marry and drink it over the next 20+. Drink 2023-2043.”