Description

The Tablas Creek Vineyard Patelin de Tablas is a Paso Robles take on a classic Rhône blend: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Counoise, with a small addition of the dark, smoky Tannat grape. The wine incorporates fruit from several of the top Rhône vineyards in Paso Robles, each vineyard selected for its quality. Like many red wines from the Rhône Valley, it is based on the dark fruit, mineral and spice of Syrah. To that Syrah, we incorporate the brightness and fresh acidity of Grenache, the structure and meatiness of Mourvèdre, the dark smokiness and firm structure of Tannat, and a small addition of Counoise for complexity. Blend: 36% Syrah, 34% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 8% Tannat and 3% Counoise.

Wine Profile

Food Pairing Notes:

Grilled meats, Pastas with meat sauces, Roast pork loin, Beef stews, Beef or pork stir fries

Production Notes:

Grapes for the Patelin de Tablas are sourced from four regions in Paso Robles. Three are limestone-rich: the warmer, higher-elevation Adelaida District near Tablas Creek, the cool, coastal-influenced Templeton Gap to our south, and the moderate, hilly El Pomar to our south-east. These regions provide structured, mineral-laced fruit and excellent acidity. We also source fruit from the warmer heartland of the Paso Robles AVA: the Geneseo District, whose mixed sandy loam soils produce juicy, vibrant Counoise. The Tannat portion of the blend comes from the Tablas Creek estate, and was added in this comparatively luscious year to provide structure and firm tannic backbone. All varietals for the Patelin de Tablas were fermented in a mix of upright oak fermenters and stainless steel tanks and aged in 1500-gallon oak upright tanks for another six months before bottling in August 2021. 1830 Cases Produced.

Tasting Notes:

A cool, spicy, nose of blackberry and wintergreen, teriyaki and black pepper. On the palate, brilliantly juicy, with flavors of elderberry, graphite, tangy black cherry and bittersweet chocolate. The long, firmly tannic finish lingers with crunchy black fruit and foresty spice. Delicious now, but with the substance and balance to age for up to a decade.

Vintage Notes:

The 2020 vintage began benignly, with a cool spring that delayed budbreak to a little after normal, and continued below-average temperatures through July. Beginning in August, the weather turned hot, accelerating ripening and producing intense flavors. The state's terrible fires stayed well north of us, and the harvest finished early, under a compressed timeline but good conditions. The vintage shows concentrated flavors, noteworthy lushness, and lovely spice.