2000 Esprit de Beaucastel
The Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Beaucastel 2000 was our first-ever release of our flagship red blend, incorporating four estate-grown varieties from grapevines propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate. Like the Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape red, it is based on the dark red fruit, chewy tannic structure, and meaty richness of the Mourvedre grape.
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93 points; "Shockingly good at near 25 years": Owen Bargreen (Feb. 2024)
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93 points; "silky texture and downright delicious layers of black cherry compote, dried thyme, smoked brisket and black olive tapenade": Washington Wine Blog (Jun. 2020)
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92 points; "a beautifully characterful and complete debut offering": Wine Advocate (May 2018)
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"Minerally, sanguine notes": James Molesworth (May 2010)
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91 points; "bold but still balanced": Wine Anorak (July 2004)
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90 points: Stephen Tanzer (Feb. 2004)
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91 points; "superb": Wine Enthusiast (Dec. 2003)
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92 points: "tremendous intensity as well as richness": Wine Advocate (Aug. 2003)
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90 points: Wine&Spirits (Aug. 2003)
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"Unequivocally Rhone-like": Saveur (Aug. 2003)
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93 points: Wine Advocate (Feb. 2002)
Tasting Notes
The 2000 Esprit de Beaucastel is the product of a beautifully balanced vintage. Excellent weather produced a wine of both intensity and elegance, with aromatics of roasted meats, licorice and currants, and flavors of ripe cherries, blackberries, leather, earth and spice, held together in a velvety tannic structure.
Updated tasting notes from a June 2024 vertical tasting can be found on the Tablas Creek blog.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 14.6% alcohol by volume
- 4237 cases produced
Blend
- 35% Mourvèdre
- 26% Syrah
- 25% Grenache
- 14% Counoise
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Game
- Dark Fowl (i.e., duck)
- Richly flavored stews
- Lamb
- Asian preparation of red meats (i.e., beef stir fry)
Production Notes
The 2000 vintage was beautifully balanced at the vineyard: warm sunny days persisted through the ripening season, without the intense baking heat that can dampen the varietals’ aromatics. Consistent warmth shortened the harvest, which began on September 18th with the Syrah, and finished with the last lots of Counoise and Mourvèdre on October 19th.
Native yeast fermentation was conducted in open and closed stainless steel fermenters and small oak “pieces”. After pressing, the wines were racked and blended, and aged for a year in 1200-gallon French oak foudres before being bottled in April, 2002. The wines are unfined and unfiltered.
The 2000 Esprit de Beaucastel is a richly intense wine, with aromatics of roasted meats, licorice and currants, and flavors of ripe cherries, blackberries, leather, earth and spice, held together in a velvety tannic structure.
Updated tasting notes from a December 2014 vertical tasting can be found on the Tablas Creek blog.