Winemaker Notes
An elegant nose, with Marsanne seemingly at the fore right now: nectarines, lemongrass, honeydew, and a rich, wheaty element that Neil described as clean straw. The mouth is lovely, with flavors of peach pit, tangerine, and newly-mown hay drying in the sun. Lovely acids and sweet green herbs come out on the long, balanced finish. Drink now and for at least the next five years.
Blend: 44% Viognier, 29% Marsanne, 19% Grenache Blanc, 8% Roussanne
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Enthusiast
This blend of 44% Viognier, 29% Marsanne, 19% Grenache Blanc and 8% Roussanne begins with a sharply floral and inviting nose of lime blossom, sliced red and green pear and crisp Asian pear flesh. The palate picks up honeydew and Meyer lemon-pith flavors that cling to the taut weave and long finish.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is a blend of 44% Viognier, 29% Marsanne, 19% Grenache Blanc and 8% Roussanne. It has aromas of white peaches, roasted almonds, lychee and touches of green herbs and flint. The palate is light-bodied and uplifted with leesy fruits, juicy acidity and an understated finish. It's a little less flashy than its 2018 counterpart.
-
Wine Spectator
Opens with ripe peach, apricot and honeysuckle notes on a fleshy, succulent frame, followed by spice, oolong tea and orange sherbet details that linger on the finish. Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne.
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.
