Winemaker Notes
A serious nose of brambly spice, red apple skin, wild grape jelly, and bay. The palate is poised evenly between savory and sweeter elements, with plum skin and cola deepened by dried herbs and cocoa powder. A little chalky minerality comes out along with some fairly substantial tannins on the finish. This will be delicious young, with excellent complexity for this bottling, but should also age gracefully a decade or more.
Try with grilled steaks, pastas with meat sauces, rich beef stews and spicy sausages.
Blend: 43% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 19% Counoise, 5% Mourvedre
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Shimmering ruby. Cherry, black raspberry and floral qualities on the expressive, spice-accented nose. Shows excellent clarity and thrust to the sweet red and dark berry, spicecake and cola flavors, which spread out steadily through the back half. Supple, even tannins emerge slowly and add gentle grip to a long, spicy finish that strongly echoes the red fruit notes.
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James Suckling
Bright and savory plums, spiced strawberries, pomegranates and cherries to the nose that follow through to a crunchy, medium-bodied palate with a good structure. Tight and fine-grained. 43% grenache, 33% syrah, 19% counoise and 5% mourvedre. Drink now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Côtes de Tablas is a barrel-sample blend of 43% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 20% Counoise and 4% Mourvèdre. Pale garnet, it is rustically styled, with aromas of red and black fruits, mushrooms, tobacco and dried herbs. The palate is light-bodied and earthy, with a rusticity to the tannins and a tobacco-tinged finish. Barrel Sample: 88-90
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
