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BACKGROUND
THE SITE
The partners searched California from the foothills of the Sierras in the north to coastal Ventura
County in the south, looking for a close match to the Mediterranean climate and high pH soils of
Château de Beaucastel. In 1989, they purchased a 120-acre parcel twelve miles from the Pacific
Ocean in west Paso Robles. They named it Tablas Creek Vineyard, after the small creek running through the property.
The property elevation averages 1,500 feet, and the shallow, rocky limestone soils are of the same geologic origin as those at Beaucastel. Summer days are hot and sunny, but the influence of the nearby Pacific cools the nights, and the remarkably Rhône-like Paso Robles climate allows the grapes to mature fully and yet retain crisp acidity.
THE VINES
To ensure that the vines at Tablas Creek were of the highest quality and same genetic
source of those at Beaucastel, the partners imported vinifera from the French estate. Several
clones each of Mourvédre, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Counoise, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc were imported. This diversity allows Tablas Creek to replicate the clonal selection of an established French vineyard.
In January 1990, the first vine cuttings were imported from France. Before arriving at Tablas Creek, they underwent a USDA-mandated three year indexing process that ensured that the vines were virus-free; the first imported vines were available for multiplication at Tablas Creek in 1993. New clones arrived at Tablas Creek each year between 1993 and 2000. Planting continues at the estate, with the goal of having 110 acres in vines by 2010.
THE NURSERY
In order to multiply the imported vines into the quantities necessary for the vineyard, Tablas
Creek constructed its own nursery complex of high-tech greenhouses and shadehouses. There,
vinifera is multiplied, grafted onto rootstocks, and gradually hardened off to sun and wind in
preparation for planting in the vineyard.
At its peak, the nursery produced over 200,000 bench-grafted vines for planting in Tablas Creek's own vineyard and for sale to interested growers each year. Although we no longer use the Tablas Creek's nursery for commercial grafting, we partner with NovaVine, of Sonoma, CA, to make available grafted vines and budwood of Tablas Creek clones. Producers who have planted Tablas Creek clonal material include Ridge, Qupé, Bonny Doon, Beckmen, Andrew Murray, Zaca Mesa, L'Aventure, Garretson, and Justin. We have more information on our partnership with NovaVine.
THE WINES
The "Tablas Creek Vineyard" label debuted with the construction of the estate winery for the 1997
vintage. Beginning with the 2001 whites and the 2000 reds, the wines were named Esprit de
Beaucastel and Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc.
Tablas Creek Vineyard follows the centuries old Châteauneuf-du-Pape tradition of blending chosen varietals, which produces wines that are more complex and elegant, better balanced, richer and deeper than single varietal wines. Blending, estate terroir, and the use of native yeasts give Tablas Creek Vineyard a unique style that places it among the best vineyards on the world stage.
The red wines, comprising about two thirds of the vineyard's production, are made from Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Counoise. The white wines are made from Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Picpoul Blanc, and Grenache Blanc. Total quantity produced was approximately 16,000 cases in 2006 and should grow to 22,000 by 2015.
The vineyard's signature wines, Esprit de Beaucastel and Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc, are blended for richness, balance, and ageability. The Cotes de Tablas and Cotes de Tablas Blanc wines are designed to be clean, bright expressions of fruit, ready to drink younger and very approachable in price. Read more about the wines.