Beverage of the Week (BOW)
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Blanc Paso Robles 2020
Product Story
This complex and delicious white is a careful blend of five varietals: 40% Grenache Blanc, 19% Roussanne, 21% Viognier, 15% Marsanne, and 5% Clairette Blanche. This wine is always driven by the vintage and how each varietal reacts to the vintage. Grenache Blanc is the primary driver here as it has consistently been the dominate varietal in the six vintages we have reviewed. The 2020 vintage was quite cool with below-average temperatures through July that became hot in August accelerating ripening and creating intense flavors. All varietals for the Patelin Blanc were whole-cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fresh and crisp fruit flavors. After fermentation the wines were racked, then blended and bottled in May of 2021.
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, medium gold/green color. The aromatics are very intense offering scents of nectarine and quince with supporting notes of grapefruit, honeysuckle, and mint. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, apricot stone, custard, and citrus zest. The finish is long and lingering. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture.
How to Serve
The most important factor in service of this wine is to treat it like a chilled red wine. Allow this wine plenty of time to breathe and if the bottle is to be consumed in one sitting consider decanting it further encourage the flavors and aromatics to fully bloom. Pair with bold but simple fish and fowl dishes especially those featuring citrus.
Price: $ 25
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4133
