Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé Paso Robles 2023
Product Story
The 2023 vintage began with their wettest winter ever. While the winter rain replenished groundwater it did contribute to delaying bud-break. The growing season was the coolest in over a decade with a harvest roughly a month later than usual. Luckily the fall was sunny and warm allowing the grapes to ripen gradually producing intense and complex fruit. It could be a blockbuster year! This Grenache-dominated rosé is fermented and rested in stainless steel to retain its fresh flavors. A majority of the grapes are direct pressed into stainless steel tanks while 10% of the grapes are cool soaked for half of the day to extract color and structure. Patelin de Tablas Rosé is redolent of great Southern Rhône and Provence Rosés that feature fresh red fruits with bright, fresh acidity. The intensity of their 2023 fruit results in a Rosé that is generous in fruit while vibrant with acidity — this may be our favorite to date.
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, light peach color. The nose is moderately intense, offering scents of nectarine, peach, and apricot stone with supporting notes of strawberry, orange peel, and lavender. The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of raspberry, kumquat, dragon fruit, and citrus zest. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.
How to Serve
This beauty needs nothing but a glass but it's great with grilled or fried chicken, sushi, grilled Italian sausages, and smoked salmon.
Price: $ 28
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4388
