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TECHNICAL NOTES 50% Grenache 25% Syrah 25% Counoise 14.8% Alcohol by Volume 2000 Cases Produced
FOOD PAIRINGS
RECIPE SUGGESTIONS
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How is it drinking?
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The Tablas Creek Vineyard Côtes de Tablas is a blend of three estate-grown Rhône varietals: Grenache, Syrah, and Counoise. Like most wines of the Southern Rhône, it is a blend of varietals, featuring the fruit and spice of Grenache balanced by the structure and mineral of Syrah and the appealing briary wildness of Counoise. As with all our wines, the grapes for our Côtes de Tablas were grown on our 120-acre certified organic estate vineyard. The 2007 vintage was the best vintage we've yet seen at Tablas Creek. Yields were very low (down between 15% and 30%, depending on variety) due to a cold and very dry winter, which produced small berries and small clusters. A moderate summer without any significant heat spikes followed, allowing gradual ripening, and producing red wines with tremendous intensity, excellent freshness and a lushness to the fruit which cloaks tannins that should allow the wines to age gracefully. Syrah began the harvest of our reds between September 5th and October 3rd, followed by Grenache between September 25th and October 22nd, and Counoise between October 11th and 30th. All varietals were fermented in stainless steel with the use of native yeasts: the Syrah in open-top fermenters, punched down manually, and the other varietals in closed fermenters with pump-over aeration. After pressing, the wines were racked, blended, aged for a year in 1200-gallon French oak foudres, and then bottled in February 2009. The wines underwent only a light filtration before bottling. The 2007 Côtes de Tablas has an intensely Grenache nose of cherries, rare steak and pepper. It is medium-bodied, with rich juicy, spicy flavors, gentle ripe tannins and a finish laced with licorice.
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