Winemaker Notes
An intense nose of peach pit, tarragon, lemon custard, and chalky mineral.
On the palate, rich, tangy, and salty, with flavors of dried mango, brioche,
nectarine, and yellow plum. The finish is lingering, with saline and caramel
notes.
Pair with mussels Marinière, green salads with avocado and citrus dressing, scallops, ceviche, and light fish (halibut, sole) with tropical salsa.
Blend: 38% Viognier, 32% Grenache Blanc, 22% Marsanne, 8% Roussanne
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Lovely, lush, and seamless in its presentation, with the floral aromatics of Viognier, the tangy brightness of Grenache Blanc, and the richness of Marsanne and Roussanne.
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Wine & Spirits
This vintage of Côtes de Tablas is mostly viognier and grenache blanc, the rest marsanne and roussanne. The viognier and grenache blanc account for 72 percent of the blend, and their individual varietal characters create a dramatic tension, with the lemon, salt and celery notes offsetting the peachy viognier scents. Its flavors of white peach, apricot and ginger ride on a texture that’s bright and soothing at once, with a firm phenolic grip to the finish; for halibut with lemon and capers.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is a blend of 38% Viognier, 32% Grenache Blanc, 22% Marsanne and 8% Roussanne. Its bright fruit is accented by deeper tones of honeysuckle, beeswax, saline and roasted almonds, with top notes of grapefruit and spring blossoms. The palate offers intense citrus character and rounded acidity, finishing with gentle savory notes. Rating: 92+
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Wine Spectator
Pineapple, lemon and guava notes are fresh and generous, showing nutmeg, orange marmalade and fresh chamomile details on the long, expressive finish. Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
38% Viognier; 32% Grenache Blanc; 22% Marsanne; 8% Roussanne. The peachy traits of Viognier meet with limes and minerals in both the aromas and flavors of this well-made white Rhône blend, and, rather than being a simple wine for quaffing in the immediate term, it is a bit more serious and shows some layering and subtle complexity. It is accessible and quite enjoyable now, but it has the structure to age without any loss of energy for several years and is likely to gain a bit more complexity as it does.
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.
