2020 Cotes de Tablas Blanc
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The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2020 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is a blend of four estate-grown white Rhône varietals. The wine, following the model set by wines of the Southern Rhône, is a blend of varietals, led by the floral aromatics and stone fruit of Viognier and complemented by the crisp acids and rich mouthfeel of Grenache Blanc, the elegance and minerality of Marsanne, and the structure of Roussanne.
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96 points; "full-bodied and well-defined": Purely Domestic Wine Report (Jan. 2022)
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92 points; "interplay of richness and energy": Vinous (July 2022)
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92 points; "intense citrus character and rounded acidity": Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Mar. 2022)
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93 points; "a texture that’s bright and soothing at once": Wine and Spirits (Feb. 2022)
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91 points; "notes are fresh and generous": Wine Spectator (Mar. 2022)
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93 points; "A real delight to drink now.": James Suckling (Nov. 2021)
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"an outstanding white blend that shows off the quality and the value of the wines produced by Tablas Creek": VinePair (Nov. 2021)
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95 points; "perfectly balanced with a vibrant texture": BevX (Oct. 2021)
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Outstanding plus; "an irresistibly delicious white wine that is also a real value": Underground Wine Letter (Oct. 2021)
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93 points; "Lovely and lush ... seamless": Blue Lifestyle (Sep. 2021)
Tasting Notes
An intense nose of peach pit, tarragon, lemon custard, and chalky mineral. On the palate, rich, tangy, and salty, with flavors of dried mango, brioche, nectarine, and yellow plum. The finish is lingering, with saline and caramel notes. Drink now and for at least the next five years.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 12.5% Alcohol by Volume
- 1257 Cases Produced
Blend
- 38% Viognier
- 32% Grenache Blanc
- 22% Marsanne
- 8% Roussanne
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Mussels Marinière
- Green salads with avocado and citrus dressing
- Scallops
- Ceviche
- Light fish (halibut, sole) with tropical salsa
Production Notes
The grapes for our Côtes de Tablas Blanc were grown on our certified organic and biodynamic estate vineyard.
The 2020 vintage began benignly, with a cool spring that delayed budbreak to a little after normal, and continued below-average temperatures through July. Beginning in August, the weather turned hot, accelerating ripening and producing intense flavors. The state's terrible fires stayed well north of us, and the harvest finished early, under a compressed timeline but good conditions. The vintage shows concentrated flavors and a distinctive savory, spicy character.
All varietals for the Côtes de Tablas Blanc were whole cluster pressed, and fermented with native yeasts in a mix of stainless steel (for brightness and floral aromatics) and large, neutral foudres (for richness and texture). Viognier is always the lead grape in our Cotes Blanc, and we balance Viognier's lushness with the elegance of Marsanne and the brightness of Grenache Blanc, though the proportions vary depending on the character of the Viognier and the vintage. At our blending trials in April 2021, we realized that the lushness and relatively low acids of 2020 meant that Grenache Blanc's brightness was critical to the balance of the wine, and we ended up using 38% Viognier, 32% Grenache Blanc, and relatively less Marsanne (22%) and Roussanne (8%) than in many years. The wine was blended in May of 2021 and bottled in June.