2023 Le Complice
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The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2023 Le Complice is our eighth vintage of 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.
Tasting Notes
A lovely umami nose of soy, crushed rock, mint, sweet tobacco, and melted licorice. On the palate, more translucency than the nose suggested, with flavors of tangy black raspberry and plum skin and a clean mineral note reminiscent of wet stone. The long finish shows both sweet and savory herbs, and tannic grip cloaked in black fruit with a graphite-like mineral impression at the end. Memorable and impressive.
Technical Details
Appellation
- Adelaida District Paso Robles
Technical Notes
- 14.5% Alcohol by Volume
- 368 Cases Produced
Blend
- 62% Syrah
- 28% Grenache
- 10% Terret Noir
Certifications
Recipes & Pairings
Recipe Suggestions
Food Pairings
- Grilled Steaks
- Cassoulet
- Spicy Sausages
- Lamb
Production Notes
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.
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 Terret Noir, a variety we were the first to plant in California. 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 2024, aged in 1200-gallon French oak foudres before bottling in April 2025.