2004 Grenache Blanc
The 2004 Tablas Creek Vineyard Grenache Blanc is Tablas Creek’s first national release of its 100% Grenache Blanc. The Grenache Blanc grape, a little-known but widely-planted Southern Rhône varietal, produces wines with tremendous body, good acidity, and flavors of citrus, anise, and green apple.
Tasting Notes
The 2004 Grenache Blanc is a vibrant expression of the Grenache Blanc grape. Aromas of lemonand anise are followed by full body, flavors of green apple and marzipan, zesty acids and a long, elegant lemon drop finish.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 15.3% Alcohol by Volume
- 560 Cases Produced
Blend
- 100% Grenache Blanc
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Spicy Asian preparations of fish and chicken
- Shrimp Scampi
- Sushi
- Lemongrass Beef
Production Notes
We use most of our Grenache Blanc in our Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc and Côtes de Tablas Blanc each year. However, we have been so pleased by the flavors and intensity of the Grenache Blanc over the past few years that we decided to reserve a small quantity of Grenache Blanc for a single-varietal bottling.
Our Grenache Blanc grapes were grown on our 120-acre certified organic estate vineyard.
The 2004 vintage saw an early flowering but overall moderate temperatures that lengthened the growing cycle and produced grapes that were unusually aromatic and mineral-driven. Warm days and cool nights persisted through most of the summer, with daytime temperatures typically in the upper 80s and low 90s, and nighttime lows in the 50s. When it finally got and stayed hot in late August, many of our varietals (unusually) ripened near the same time. The Grenache Blanc was harvested on four days between September 22nd and 28th.
The Grenache Blanc grapes were whole cluster pressed, and fermented using native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. After primary fermentation, the wine was moved to neutral French oak barrels to complete malolactic fermentation. The final blends were assembled in May 2005, and bottled in July 2005. The wines underwent only a light cold stabilization before bottling.