2023 Bourboulenc
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The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2023 Bourboulenc is our fifth varietal bottling of this rare grape, and one of the only ones in the world. Bourboulenc is prized in the Southern Rhone for producing whites with rich texture that still have good acidity. The half-acre of estate grapes we own were propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate and are some of just a handful of acres outside France.
Tasting Notes
A nose of fresh almond and kiwi, lime leaf, mandarin orange, and white tea. On the palate, richly textured but still bright, with flavors of marmalade and citrus blossom, marzipan and Meyer lemon meringue. The finish shows lemon drop and chalky mineral notes and a pithy textural bite. Our experience aging Bourboulenc is limited, but we plan to drink ours over the next few years.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 13.0% Alcohol by Volume
- 180 Cases Produced
Blend
- 100% Bourboulenc
Certifications
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Mussels Marinière
- Green salads with avocado and citrus dressing
- Scallops
- Light-fleshed fish (halibut, sole) with tropical salsa
Production Notes
Bourboulenc is an ancient grape, first mentioned in the literature in the early 16th century, and from its earliest times identified with the south of France, particularly the area around Avignon. In the Rhone, it is valued for its ability to make wines with citrus aromatics and a distinctive smoky character, with fairly good acids and relatively low alcohol. We imported it into the United States in 2003 as part of our goal to have all the Chateauneuf du Pape varieties. It was released to us in 2014, planted in 2016, and its first harvest was 2019.
Our small (half-acre) block on our Regenerative Organic Certified™ and biodynamic estate vineyard is one of the only ones in California.
The 2023 vintage began with our wettest-ever winter, replenishing ground water and delaying budbreak. It continued with our coolest growing season in more than a decade, which combined with the late start to produce a harvest roughly a month later than most recent years, beginning in mid-September and not concluding until mid-November. Warm, sunny weather starting in October allowed the later-ripening varieties to reach full maturity. The exceptionally long hangtime and gradual ripening combined to produce fruit with deep colors, remarkable intensity, and noteworthy vibrancy. We believe 2023 has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster year.
In just a few years, it's become a favorite here, making it into the Esprit Blanc the last four years. Still, this 180-case varietal bottling is its primary showcase, and represents about 75% of our total harvest. It was blended in May 2024 and bottled in June.