Winemaker Notes
A plush nose of buttered popcorn, white flowers, melon, and salted caramel. On the palate, a burst of sweet bright fruit like baked lemon squares with additional notes of honeydew melon and crushed rock. The long finish shows lemongrass and mineral notes.
Blend: 34% Viognier, 31% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 13% Roussanne, 2% Clairette Blanche
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted as a final blend before bottling, the 2023 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is 34% Viognier, 31% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, 13% Roussanne and 2% Clairette Blanche. The nose is a beautiful combination of floral, breezy, honeyed and ripe, with ripe but focused orchard fruit aromas mingling with those of white flowers and wild herbs. The palate echoes this balance with lovely concentration and power braced with streaks of bright, chiseled precision. Barrel Sample: (92-94)
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James Suckling
A floral and giving wine with aromas of apricots, lavender and green melon. The palate is medium-bodied with bright acidity and a generous texture, giving notes of Asian pears, orange sherbet and chalk. 34% viognier, 31% marsanne, 20% grenache blanc, 13% rouusanne and 2% clairette blanc.
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Wine Spectator
Engaging for its spicy, floral and peach entry, with a thread of green tea running through the plush, textured core of Meyer lemon and peach. Balances elegance with a gentle push of acidity that lifts the flavors onto the finish. Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Clairette Blanche. Drink now through 2028. 1,300 cases made.
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.
