Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas Adelaida District 2021
Product Story
The 2021 Esprit de Tablas is a charming and nuanced Châteauneuf du Pape tribute created in Paso Robles by Tablas Creek. This is Tablas Creek’s flagship red blend and it never fails to impress. It's crafted with a blend of 35% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 7% Vaccarese, 5% Cinsaut, and 4% Counoise. The blend changes from vintage to vintage but the Esprit de Tablas is always led by Mourvedre — although this is the lowest portion of the varietal in our nine vintages of tasting. The 2021 vintage is among the very best in recent memory at Tablas Creek. The grapes for the Esprit de Tablas were grown on their certified organic and biodynamic estate vineyard. The grapes were fermented with native yeasts in wooden, upright, 1,500-gallon fermenters. The best lots were blended in June 2022 and then rested in a foudre for an additional 12 months before bottling in July 2023. This wine will only get better with time in the cellar — leave it for at least a decade.
Brand Story
Tablas Creek is a unique animal on the California wine scene. They are unquestioned pioneers in the movement of Rhône-styled wines in California and many consider them to be the absolute best-in-class. While many wineries in California make wines with classic Rhône varietals, Tablas Creek makes wines with the heart and soul of the Rhône. They were founded in 1989 by a collaboration between two iconic wine families – the Perin family of Chateau de Beaucastel and the Haas family of Vineyard Brands. Together they chose vineyard locations in Paso Robles, imported vine cuttings from the Rhône, and built vineyards and a winery from the dirt up. Their vineyard site in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles is a close match to climatic conditions and soils found at Chateau de Beaucastel. Their wines are not at all typically Californian in style. While they are not merely replicas of Rhône wines, they are rather a unique expression of Paso Robles fruit grown at elevation with the winemaking touch of an old Rhône master. I love how the Tablas Creek wines are always true to their respective vineyards and vintages. The wines convey a sense of being expertly managed rather than manipulated. Bravo!
Tasting Note
Brilliant, deep ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of bramble and five spice with supporting notes of black currant, saddle leather, and cocoa nibs. The palate confirms the nose delivering a black fruit-driven core with flavors of black plum, elderberry, black tea, garrigue, and slate. The finish is long and lingering with chewy tannins. Medium to full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a meaty yet nimble texture.
How to Serve
This dense and rich wine really needs to be decanted to be fully enjoyed. It does drink well now but it needs years in the cellar for it to show you all that it has. Pair with duck breast, roasted lamb, or beef braised in red wine.
Price: $ 70
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4346
