The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   Adelaida District

Varietal   Vermentino

Retail Price   $30

ABV   13%

Score   5 Stars/97 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, light green/gold color.

The aromatics are intense, offering scents of lime leaf and red grapefruit with supporting notes of lemon grass, slate, and green tea.

The palate echoes the nose delivering a citrus-driven core with flavors of pineapple, quince, limeade, and trailing notes of mineral. The finish is long and lingering and as it warms the fruit becomes softer and more expansive.

Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.

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

Granted, $30 is hardly a bargain price in the minds of many wine drinkers but when you can sip near perfection for $30 we find it to be a tremendous value.

Analysis

There is precious little Vermentino grown in America — a damn shame — and Tablas Creek's Vermentino is unmatched. Vermentino is typically high in acid with flavors of grapefruit, green apple, peach, and lime with hints of blanched almonds and spring flowers. The grape is native to Italy where it is utilized in wines from Liguria to Sardegna and locations in between. It is also grown in the South of France with great success. The 2021 vintage began after a chilly and relatively dry winter. This resulted in small clusters and berries with total yields down about 25%. Tablas Creek’s Vermentino grapes are whole cluster pressed and fermented utilizing native yeasts in stainless steel and concrete. This ultra-refreshing wine sees no wood at all and is ready to drink today. You need this wine!

How to Enjoy

You really need nothing but a glass but it does pair great with seafood, pesto, and vegetable stir-fry.