Tablas Creek Vineyard is a collaboration established some years ago between the winemaking Perrin family of the Rhône Valley’s famous Château de Beaucastel in France and Robert Haas, the founder of Vineyard Brands, a U.S. wine importer. They chose a rugged area near Paso Robles, Calif., because it resembles the terrain of the Perrin estate. The original vines of traditional Rhône grape varieties were imported to the California estate where they were propagated and planted. Today the nursery they created for their vineyards also supplies cuttings for neighboring vineyards as well as those in California, Washington State, Virginia and Texas. Patelin is French slang for “neighborhood” indicating that the grapes for this wine comes from other vineyards in the area planted mostly with Tablas Creek cuttings. It is a classic Rhône-style blend with the biggest contributions from Grenache Blanc, then Viognier, equal parts of Marsanne and Roussanne and a splash of Clairette. It is fresh and appealing with aromas of peaches and green apples mingling with fresh floral and herbal notes. The juicy fruit flavors of peaches, apples, citrus spiked with anise and honey are round and lush, animated by lively acidity longing for a partner like a spicy Thai Massaman curry or a creamy mac and cheese.
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles (Central Coast, California) 2017
By Rebecca Murphy