Winemaker Notes
A deep nose of honeycomb, baked pear, white flowers, lemongrass, vanilla bean, and key lime pie. The palate is rich and broad but with lift too, with flavors of fresh apricot, creme brulee, preserved lemon, citrus pith, chalky minerals. The finish leaves lingering notes of grilled pineapple, green herbs, and a kiss of sweet oak. Drink now to enjoy its freshness or let it age for up to two decades for deeper flavors of caramel and roasted nuts.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Wet slate and granite aromas and flavors join subtle spices on a palate of concentration and length. White licorice, citrus and apples linger with lanolin and quietly lifted lemon blossoms. Structure and generosity in equal measure. Drink or hold, but best after 2026 and for more than a decade after.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
One of California’s most compelling Rhône-inspired white wines. The 2023 opens with aromas of white peach, citrus blossom, pear, and a hint of honeyed almond. On the palate the wine shows a beautifully textured, layered feel, with richness coming from the Roussanne core of the blend. Flavors of stone fruit, lemon curd, and subtle mineral notes unfold with balance and freshness, along with a touch of rusticity in the flavors that adds character and depth. The textured palate gives the wine presence while still maintaining lift and energy. A serious white that should evolve gracefully over the next decade — and a wonderful companion to Hamachi sashimi, where the wine’s texture and citrus lift complement the silky richness of the fish beautifully. (Tasted: March 8, 2026, San Francico, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
As I wrote last year, the 2023 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is poised and composed on the nose, straddling orchard fruit, citrus rind and white flower aromas with a rich, deep nuttiness at the core. The palate is punchy, powerful and round in texture with a surprising elegance and understated quality. The finish is seamless and direct, with a pleasing phenolic grip and lifted acidity surrounding a core of rich stone fruit flavors. This is a classic version of this wine, with perhaps a bit more energy overall, due to both the cool vintage and the lower percentage of Roussanne that has characterized the last few versions of this blend. This 2023 is composed of 48% Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc, 13% Picpoul Blanc, 10% Bourboulenc, 5% Picardan and 2% Clairette Blanche.
Rating: 95+ -
Wine Enthusiast
Prominent white peach aromas are cut by lime pith on the nose of this Roussanne- and Grenache Blanc-led blend of six grapes. The palate is is flatter in texture, offering pina colada-like flavors.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
GLO686929_2023 Item# 4122007