Winemaker Notes
A vibrant nose of fruitcake and fig, chocolate-dipped strawberries and sweet spice. The mouth has black cherry and wild strawberry fruit, cocoa powder, and a crunchy brightness like bursts of pomegranate seeds. The finish shows a briary, herby note over cherry cola and clove-studded orange. Grenache at its most high-toned and appealing. Enjoy any time over the next decade.
Blend: 44% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 19% Counoise, 4% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lifted fruit profile of dark cherries complemented by aromas of red currants and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and notes of pomegranates, cranberries and potpourri. Very energetic and bright, with serious tannins and aging capacity. Made from 44% grenache, 33% syrah, 19% cournoise and 4% mourvedre
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Wine Spectator
Sleek and vibrant, with elegantly layered raspberry, rose petal and garrigue accents that gather richness and polish toward refined tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Counoise and Mourvedre. Drink now through 2032. 1,103 cases made.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Côtes de Tablas is 44% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 19% Counoise and 4% Mourvèdre. The nose leads with pure, red-fruited aromas framed by dried herbs, brambles and black tea. The palate combines a lighter frame with solid concentration, offering superb clarity and delineation between varietals and a pretty, bright, harmonious finish.
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Vinous
The 2022 Côtes de Tablas is distinctly savory with wild herbs and cedar shavings showcasing dried black cherries. It flows across the palate with ripe red and blue fruits elevated by juicy acidity as sweet herbal tones accentuate the close. Nicely grippy but only lightly structured, this finishes with length and on a savory note.
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.
