NEW RELEASES

Tablas Creek Vineyard is producing consistently superb wines and I have written about them often (to read an earlier article click here). Recently in a list of the 101 best wineries in America, Tablas Creek Vineyard was named the number one winery by The Daily Meal where I am on the wine nominating panel and The Underground Wineletter is a regular contributor (to read the article America’s 101 Best Wineries 2015 click here). Interestingly, Tablas Creek is in very good company with 3 other Central Coast wineries ranked number 2, 3, and 4 – Ridge Vineyards, Au Bon Climat, and Calera (to read my article on world class Central Coast wineries click here ).

The new Tablas Creek Vineyard releases from the drought years of 2013 and 2014 are wonderful. And they represent very good value. Don’t miss them!

2014 Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas Blanc
The grapes for this wine came from six Rhône vineyards in Paso Robles. The wine consists of 49% Grenache Blanc, 31% Viognier, 12% Roussanne, and 8% Marsanne. The alcohol is 13.3% and there were 3200 cases produced. This is a particularly expressive Patelin de Tablas Blanc with a lot of charm, finesse and flavor. It is very light yellow in color with a gorgeous floral perfume with hints of citrus and white peach. Beautifully balanced, the wine has a myriad of fruit flavors accented by a touch of spice and a faint mineral note. With lots of early appeal, it is delicious to drink now and is a great value in a complex and versatile food friendly wine – Outstanding Plus.     $20   Best Buy    

2014 Tablas Creek Vineyard Côtes de Tablas Blanc Adelaida District Paso Robles
This Côtes de Tablas Blanc is made from estate grown grapes and consists of 42% Viognier, 30% Grenache Blanc, 23% Marsanne, and 5% Roussanne. The alcohol is 13.5% and 1200 cases were produced. This is a delicious wine that opens with air. Light yellow in color the wine has a lovely floral perfume with hints of citrus and melon and a faint spiciness. With lovely very pure fruit it is flavorful with hints of melon and tinges of citrus and spice. A nice underlying crispness gives the wine lift and it is delicious now and may develop a bit more over the next couple of years – Outstanding Plus.   $27

2013 Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Tablas Blanc Adelaida District Paso Robles
Made from estate grown grapes this wine consists of 71% Roussanne, 21% Grenache Blanc, and 8% Picpoul Blanc. The alcohol is 13% and 2200 cases were produced. This is a stunning Roussanne based wine with richness and depth that should continue to develop over many years. It is light yellow in color with a deep perfume showing hints of pear, apple, and melon with a faint floral honied nuance. Rounded and lush with a nice underlying crispness the wine has complex flavors showing subtle hints of peach, pear, and citrus with a kiss of spice and a very faint touch of smokiness. With impressive length on the palate, this Esprit de Tablas Blanc is sure to follow the trend of this wine and develop even more complexity and richness over the next decade or more – Exceptional.   $45

2013 Tablas Creek Vineyard Mouvèdre Adelaida District Paso Robles
Made from 100% estate grown Mouvèdre there were 600 cases produced and it has 13.5% alcohol. Dark in color this Mouvèdre has a deep perfume that is faintly smoky with black berry fruit and a hint of chocolate accented by a touch of spice and a faint briary quality. Flavorful with great fruit and structure it shows lots of black berry fruit with a faint spicy smokiness and a tinge of dark chocolate. Balanced with a good underlying backbone this is stunning wine with a long life ahead – Outstanding Plus.   $40

To visit the Tablas Creek Vineyard website click here and to read about the Tablas Creek Vineyard wine clubs click here.