Winemaker Notes
The 2006 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is Tablas Creek's fifth national release of its Viognier-based white blend. It features spicy aromas ofherbs, stone fruits and minerals are followed in the mouth by apricot flavors, rich texture, bright acidity, and a long, clean, peachy finish.
Food pairings: mussels Mariniere, green salads with avocado and citrus dressing, scallops, ceviche, light fish (halibut, sole) with tropical salsa.
"This beautifulwine is performing better out of bottle than it did last year from tank. A blend of 59% Viognier, 32% Marsanne, and the rest Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, it exhibits aromas of tropical fruits, lemon blossom, grapefruit, crushed rocks, and quince. This medium-bodied, dry, personality-filled white is best consumed over the next 2-3 years." 90 Points
Wine Advocate
June 30, 2008
"Bright yellow. Spicy orange and lime on the nose, with a dusty mineral quality adding interest. Racy, sharply focused citrus zest and green apple scents gain weight with air, picking up a light apricot character. Offers gentle sweetness on the long, spicy finish." 89 Points
International Wine Cellar
November 15, 2007
Professional Ratings
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.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.