We were excited to see our Patelin de Tablas Blanc as a recommendation in Food and Wine Magazine's Thanksgiving edition. In his recommendation he called the wine:
A mélange of Rhône varieties (Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and more) goes into this full bodied Paso Robles white. Invite friends over and open a bottle.
We were excited to read Owen Bargreen's new reviews of six of our newest releases, which scored as high as 96 points for the new 2023 Esprit de Tablas. From his introduction:
It is my pleasure to share the brilliant wines of Paso Robles legend Tablas Creek. Founded by Jean-Pierre and François Perrin and Robert Haas on what was formerly an former alfalfa farm they struck gold planting vines on limestone soils in the Adelaida Hills. They saw immense potential to produce wines with stony minerality. From the beginning they focused on Rhône-style wines made organically. The first plantings took place in 1994 and the first Tablas Creek Vineyard wines produced in 1997. The winery has been an incredible success since that time, reaching worldwide acclaim particularly for their Rhone style red and white blends.
In a new article for his website Wine Anorak, Jamie Goode recounts a Tablas Creek and Beaucastel tasting that he attended in London, explores the partnership that led to Tablas Creek, and shares notes on the ten wines (five each from Tablas Creek and Beaucastel/Famille Perrin) he tasted. From his introduction:
Jason Haas of Tablas Creek and Andrew Bayley (GM of Beaucastel’s UK operation) presented this really interesting tasting, telling the story of a beautiful partnership between the Rhône and Paso Robles in California. It was organized by UK retailer The Wine Society, who work closely with both domaines.
In his new Paso Robles report focusing on the 2023 and 2024 vintages for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, reviewer Matthew Luczy includes reviews of 24 new Tablas Creek wines. From his introduction:
The extended hang time and cool temperatures of 2023 played beautifully into the hands of the team at Tablas Creek, emphasizing the understated and balanced style they have perennially produced.
His reviews of the wines was highlighted by our 2023 Panoplie at 97 points, tied for the highest rating of any wine from his Paso Robles report. Other wines included new releases like the 2023 Esprit de Tablas (96 points), 2023 Esprit de Tablas Blanc (95+ points), and 2023 En Gobelet (95 points); as well as wines yet to be released, like the debut vintage of 2024 Panoplie Blanc (94-96 points) and the 2023 Le Complice (94+ points). His article on the region [subscription required] is available now.
In a feature article, Rhone correspondent Matt Walls celebrates Tablas Creek's completion of the Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape collection of grapes. He tracks the vineyard's heritage and history, and finished by offering tasting notes on recent vintages of all 16 of Tablas Creek's different Rhone varietal bottlings. From his conclusion:
In red, the Grenache and Syrah really show their natural class. Cinsault and Counoise are both seeing something of a reappraisal in the Rhône currently, and these bottlings from Tablas Creek prove that they can do brilliantly elsewhere too.
The Muscardin and Terret Noir shared certain similarities: they are more light and smashable, more about flowers and herbs than generous fruits.
The whites if anything were even more consistent. Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette and Grenache Blanc are responsible for some of the best whites in the Rhône Valley, and they didn’t disappoint here either.
What surprised me was how well some of the lesser-known varieties performed – the Bourboulenc, Piquepoul and Picardan were also excellent. All three have relatively high acidity, and Haas rightly states that in a warming climate, ‘acid is more valuable than it’s ever been’.
We were pleased to see our 2024 Patelin de Tablas Rosé 3L Box featured in a glowing review on Reverse Wine Snob. The article praises both the wine and the format, noting that too often box wine has been associated with lower quality, but Tablas Creek sets a higher standard. Reviewer Jon Thorsen highlights the rosé’s “rich, layered, deep and delicious” character, the transparency of sourcing across six Paso Robles sub-appellations, and the convenience and freshness of the 3L box. From the article:
A perfect wine for a box, it’s not possible to have too much of this one. It’ll stay fresh for 6 weeks too but good luck making it last that long! This is definitely a winner!
We were delighted to be featured in Andrew James’ latest piece, which explores the Franco-American partnership behind Tablas Creek and the decades-long collaboration that brought Rhône varieties and regenerative practices to Paso Robles. The article traces the connection between Château de Beaucastel and the Haas family, and how that alliance helped make rhone varieties part of the identity of Paso Robles. From the article:
Along with Bandol’s Domaine Tempier, Esprit de Tablas is one of the finest expressions of Mourvèdre I have encountered… Clearly, the wines from Tablas Creek can never be reproductions of Beaucastel blends. As the current name of the top wine suggests, the winery has developed its own spirit.
The piece also features a three-vintage comparison of Esprit de Tablas (2006, 2014, and 2021), and highlights how Tablas Creek’s regenerative farming practices have influenced even Beaucastel’s approach to viticulture in the Rhône.
We were thrilled to be featured in Vinous this week in an expansive retrospective by Eric Guido, who shared notes on eighteen vintages of our flagship red blend, Esprit de Tablas. The article traces the wine’s evolution since its 2000 debut, and leads Eric to conclude, "The Esprit de Tablas proves time and time again that it can mature positively for two decades or more." Along the way, Eric shares the history of Tablas Creek, highlights key vintage milestones, and celebrates the ongoing influence of the Haas and Perrin families’ original vision. From his conclusion:
“If there’s one U.S. Rhône blend that unfailingly embodies purity, complexity and age-worthiness, it’s the Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas.”
In total, he reviewed 18 vintages of Esprit de Tablas, with scores ranging from 91 to 96+ points. Among the top-rated wines:
2004 Esprit de Beaucastel – 96 points: “Pure elegance … beautifully balanced and well-constructed.”
2015 Esprit de Tablas – 96 points: “keeps the mouth watering for more.”
2019 Esprit de Tablas – 96 points: “seamlessly silky in feel ... built for the cellar”
2021 Esprit de Tablas – 96+ points: “Dramatically long and structured … There’s so much potential here.”
It was great also to see Eric highlight something that we have long believed: that Esprit is a great value among category-leading wines:
In the broader context of fine wine, the Esprit de Tablas remains a remarkable value in the market. Even older vintages remain available to wine club members at fair prices for wines with age.
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