2016 Picpoul Blanc
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The 2016 Tablas Creek Vineyard Picpoul Blanc (also known as Piquepoul or Piquepoul Blanc in France) is Tablas Creek’s ninth bottling -- and first since 2014 -- of this traditional Southern Rhône varietal, used in Châteauneuf du Pape as a blending component, and best known from the crisp light green wines of the Pinet Region in the Languedoc. Derived from the French "piquer" (to sting), in France the grape is known for its bright acidity, its minerality, and a clean lemony flavor. We have found that in California, it maintains its bright acidity, but also develops an appealing tropical lushness.
Tasting Notes
The 2016 Picpoul Blanc is spicy and powerful on the nose, with Meyer lemon, watermelon, crushed rock, and a rich yeasty note. The palate shows flavors of grilled lemon, fresh mango, sweet baking spices, and saline minerality. The acids build in the mouth and the wine finishes with lingering flavors of wet rocks and lemon zest. Drink now and over the next few years.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 14.0% Alcohol by Volume
- 250 Cases Produced
Blend
- 100% Picpoul Blanc
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Fried Calamari
- Thai dishes with lemongrass & ginger
- Dover sole
- Ceviche
Production Notes
Picpoul Blanc was the first supplementary varietal we brought into the country after the initial eight varietals. It went into quarantine in 1996, and was released in 1998. The first vines went into the ground in 2000. We were so pleased with the varietal that in the winter of 2005-2006 we tripled our planted acreage (from 1 to 3 acres). Our Picpoul grapes were grown on our certified organic estate vineyard.
The 2016 vintage, while still marked by drought, saw better rainfall than the four previous years, and the vineyard showed good health through most of the growing season. That season started with a very early budbreak and continued warm weather spurred our earliest-ever beginning to harvest, on August 18th. But beginning mid-August, three cool weeks slowed the ripening for all but our earliest grapes, and allowed them to reach flavor and phenolic maturity with slightly above-average hang time. Yields were better than 2015: at 2.97 tons/acre, right at our 10-year average. The resulting vintage shows excellent concentration but also remarkable vibrancy, with electric acids framing appealing juiciness. Our Picpoul was harvested between September 23rd and 29th.
The Picpoul grapes were whole cluster pressed, and fermented using native yeasts in a mix of stainless steel and neutral 60-gallon oak barrels to achieve a balance of freshness and richness. It completed malolactic fermentation in barrel, and bottled in June 2017.