The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Paso Robles

Varietal   White Blend

Retail Price   $45

ABV   13%

Score   4 Stars/91 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, golden straw color.

The nose is rich with the scent of fresh, ripe orchard fruit with a generous dose of butterscotch and hints of citrus, fennel fronds, and mineral.

The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush, silky fruit core with supporting notes brown butter and oak.

Full-bodied with rich fruit and oak accents foiled by bright acidity and a robust structure.

Cool Factor

Tablas Creek is a unique winery in California seamlessly marrying Old World and New World winemaking and setting the standard for Rhône varietals in California. What could be cooler?

Value Grade

At $45 a bottle it's certainly beyond many wine drinkers weeknight budget but considering the pedigree and the fact that this wine will age very gracefully we recommend it.

Analysis

The Esprit de Tablas is a different animal than its white blend siblings being Roussanne forward with an unmistakable oak impression. The blend is: 71% Roussanne, 21% Grenache Blanc, and 8% Picpoul Blanc. The harvest ran from early September to early October. The Roussanne was fermented in a variety of barrel sizes, all neutral (not new) oak and all of the wine went through malolactic offering rounder, creamier edges to the natural acidity. 91 points out of 100.

How to Enjoy

This is a serious and meaty white that calls for braised dishes with loads of garlic and herbs, as well as oily fish and even duck.