2022 Le Complice
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The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2022 Le Complice is our seventh vintage this blend that celebrates the kinship between Syrah and one of our more obscure red varieties, 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 provide a nice counterpoint to Syrah's tendency toward density. The final note is provided by Grenache, which we add for juiciness and friendly, mouth-filling appeal.
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95 points; "Very balanced and lush, with a long, lingering finish": JamesSuckling.com (Sep. 2024)
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94 points; "burly, tannic yet balanced and beautiful": Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Sep. 2024)
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94 points; "dramatic length and concentration, a tinge of salted licorice and violet inner florals": Vinous (July 2024)
Tasting Notes
A nose of bay, boysenberry, iron, and pancetta. On the palate, more open than the nose suggests, with flavors of dark plum, baker's chocolate, aromatic bitters, and a molasses-but-not-sweet note like pumpernickel bread. The finish shows chewy tannins, dark fruit, and a graphite mineral note classic for Syrah. Drink over the next two decades.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 14.0% Alcohol by Volume
- 785 Cases Produced
Blend
- 67% Syrah
- 25% Grenache
- 5% Terret Noir
- 3% Muscardin
Certifications
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Grilled Steaks
- Cassoulet
- Spicy Sausages
- Lamb
Production Notes
The 2022 vintage was our third year of drought, but because the rain that we received came early, the vines showed good health though with cluster counts down by about 15%. A cool first half of the summer was followed by our hottest-ever August and September, producing an early start and an even earlier finish to harvest. The vintage's extremely low yields produced concentrated flavors, noteworthy texture, and intense fruit.
The grapes for our Le Complice were grown on our Regenerative Organic Certified® estate vineyard.
The Le Complice is based on several parcels of Syrah that come from the far western section of our estate vineyard, each fermented with a different concentration of whole cluster. This whole-cluster Syrah is blended with two grapes that we were the first to plant in California: Terret Noir and Muscardin. Both these grapes have pale color, high acid and tannin, and a lovely herby, floral lift. The final touch is provided by Grenache, which brings juiciness and mouth-filling lushness to the blend. The wine was blended in June of 2023, aged in 1200-gallon French oak foudres before bottling in April 2024.