2016 En Gobelet
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The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2016 En Gobelet is a unique blend of five estate-grown varietals, selected from head-trained, dry-farmed sections of our certified organic estate vineyard. We have felt for some time that the lots from head-pruned blocks share an elegance and a clarity that was noteworthy. Beginning in 2007, we created our non-traditional blend En Gobelet which combines the fruit, approachability and lushness of Grenache, the structure, earth, and mid-palate richness of Mourvèdre, the dark color and minerality of Syrah, the vibrant spiciness of Counoise, and the dark smokiness of Tannat.
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91 points:"It has good density, medium to full body, and terrific purity": Jeb Dunnuck(November 2018)
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94 points; "Finishes very long, sappy and energetic, with smooth tannins lending shape and gentle grip": Vinous (September 2018)
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92+ points; "a medium to fullbodied, vibrant wine with lovely purity and a fine-grained, tautly chalky finish": Wine Advocate (May 2018)
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93-94 points; "Sweet, seamless and lively on the palate ... Displays impressive depth but shows no excess fat": Vinous (Nov. 2017)
Tasting Notes
The 2016 En Gobelet shows an opulent nose, but with a cool undertone: currants and baking spices undercut by pine forest and mint. On the palate, black raspberry, plum skin, baker's chocolate, and rare steak are all emphasized by a salty mineral note. Vibrant and expressive on the finish, with notes of red licorice and chewy tannins that promise decades ahead. A wine that is by turns dark, and rich, and cool. Drink now or any time over the next two decades or longer.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 14.2 Alcohol by Volume
- 925 Cases Produced
Blend
- 39% Mourvedre
- 30% Grenache
- 20% Syrah
- 8% Counoise
- 3% Tannat
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Game
- Dark Fowl (i.e., duck)
- Richly flavored stews
- Lamb
- Pasta puttanesca
- Asian preparation of red meats (i.e., beef stir fry)
Production Notes
The 2016 vintage, while still marked by drought, saw better rainfall than the four previous years, and the vineyards 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. The resulting vintage shows excellent concentration but also remarkable vibrancy, with electric acids framing appealing juiciness.
The grapes for our En Gobelet were grown on our certified organic and biodynamic estate vineyard.
The grapes were largely havested from the section of the vineyard we call "Scruffy Hill" and fermented individually in small fermenters using native yeasts. After pressing, the wines were moved into a mix of neutral oak barrels and puncheons before being selected and blended in May 2017. The finished wine was aged in one 1200-gallon French oak foudre as well as a couple of older oak puncheons before being re-blended and bottled in April 2018.