2013 Picpoul Blanc
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The 2013 Tablas Creek Vineyard Picpoul Blanc (also known as Piquepoul or Piquepoul Blanc in France) is Tablas Creek’s seventh bottling 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 2013 Picpoul Blanc shows exotic aromas of preserved lemon, sage, cedar, toasted coconut and mint. The mouth shows a similar balance between savory and fruitier notes, with flavors of lemon peel, watermelon rind, mineral, honeydew and plantain, and more citrus -- both leaf and flower -- lingering on the long finish.
Updated tasting notes from a January 2023 vertical tasting can be found on the Tablas Creek blog.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 13.1% Alcohol by Volume
- 115 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 have been 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 120-acre certified organic estate vineyard.
The 2013 vintage was a classic California vintage, warm and sunny, with added intensity from the low yields produced by our second consecutive drought year. The summer was consistently warm, without the heat spikes or cold stretches that can delay ripening, and resulted in an early harvest under near-perfect conditions. The net result was a blockbuster vintage, with excellent concentration and good freshness, that should offer both early appeal and the capacity to age. Our Picpoul was harvested nearly a month earlier than normal, between September 5th and 16th.
The Picpoul grapes were whole cluster pressed, and fermented using native yeasts in a mix of stainless steel and small, mostly neutral, barrels to achieve a balance of freshness and richness. It completed malolactic fermentation in barrel, and was blended in April 2014 and bottled in May 2014.