2018 Le Complice
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The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2018 Le Complice, our third vintage of our first new blend in a decade, celebrates the kinship between Syrah and our newest red grape, Terret Noir. In French, Le Complice means, roughly, "partners in crime". Although Syrah is dark and Terret light, both share wild herby black spice, and Terret's high acids bolster Syrah's tendency toward stolidity. We added some Grenache for mid-palate fleshiness.
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94 points; "shows the quality and flexibility of Tablas Creek": GrapeLive (Jan. 2022)
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94 points; "Palate-staining black raspberry, mulberry, cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors show fine definition": Vinous (Dec. 2020)
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93 points; "silky, perfumed and ultra juicy": Wine Advocate (Oct. 2020)
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93 points; "The palate entry is ripe, focused and robust": Purely Domestic Wine Report (Oct. 2020)
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93-95 Points; "impressively long and smooth, with a hint of velvety tannins": Vinous (Feb. 2020)
Tasting Notes
A savory, herby dark nose of black pepper, pancetta, sweet tobacco, and sandalwood. On the palate, more vibrant than the nose suggests at this stage, with tangy black raspberry, smoky black tea, bitter chocolate, and a cranberry-like crunchiness that is refreshing and appealing. Good acids and youthful tannins suggest that the wine will drink well for two decades or more.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 13.5% Alcohol by Volume
- 830 Cases Produced
Blend
- 60% Syrah
- 25% Grenache
- 15% Terret Noir
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Grilled Steaks
- Cassoulet
- Spicy Sausages
- Lamb
Production Notes
The grapes for our Le Complice were grown on our organic and biodynamic estate vineyard.
The 2018 vintage saw an almost ideal balance of vine health and stress, as is often the case with the first dry year after a very wet one. Although rainfall was just 70% of normal, the rains came late, delaying the onset of bud-break and the beginning of the growing season. The cool weather continued most of the year, punctuated by a six-week heat wave in July and early August. But temperatures moderated before picking began, and harvest proceeded under slightly cooler than normal conditions, allowing us to pick without stress and producing fruit (and wines) with intense flavors and good balancing acidity.
The wine was blended in June of 2019, aged in foudre, bottled in April 2020, and aged in our cellars until release.