2021 Picpoul Blanc
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The 2021 Tablas Creek Vineyard Picpoul Blanc (also known as Piquepoul or Piquepoul Blanc in France) is Tablas Creek’s fourteenth 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 2021 Picpoul Blanc has a nose of fresh pineapple and briny minerality with a toasted coconut note of sweet spice. On the palate, mouth-coating flavors of nectarine and passion fruit brightened by vibrant acids and enriched by unusually lush texture for Picpoul. The finish is long and clean, with flavors of pina colada and lingering saline minerality. Drink now and over the next few years.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 13% Alcohol by Volume
- 50 Cases Produced
Blend
- 100% Picpoul Blanc
Certifications
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 were 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 Regenerative Organic Certified™ and biodynamic estate vineyard.
The 2021 vintage came after a chilly, relatively dry winter, the exception being a single storm that dropped more than a foot of rain on us in late January. The cold, dry winter produced a fruit set with smaller clusters and smaller berries, and yields were down about 25% compared to our average. The growing season was ideal, with each hot stretch followed by a cool period that allowed the vines to recover, and that combined with the low yields to produce some of our most intense fruit ever and our highest average acids since the chilly 2011 vintage. We believe that 2021 has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster year.
The Picpoul grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented using native yeasts in a mix of stainless steel and neutral 60-gallon acacia barrels to achieve a balance of freshness and richness. It completed malolactic fermentation in barrel and was bottled in June 2022.