Winemaker Notes
A lovely, creamy nose of wildflower honey, sweet baking spices, citrus pith, and briny minerality. The mouth is textured and dry, with both the richness and essence of egg custard, flavors of quince and pear, and a long finish with echoing honey, fresh vanilla bean, and limestone mineral notes. A powerful, textured Esprit Blanc that is drinking well now but which we expect will really shine with time in the cellar.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of peach, thyme and lilies. Medium-bodied with refreshing tannins. Bright acidity, but overall pleasant, mellow presence. Fresh stone fruit and jasmine on the palate. Well balanced with a soft finish. 63% roussanne, 20% grenache blanc, 14% picpoul blanc, 3% picardan.
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Tasting Panel
Lush and minerally, this wine is led by the richness of Roussanne and the crispness of Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is made primarily from Roussanne, blended with 20% Grenache Blanc, 14% Picpoul Blanc and 3% Picardin. It has a very pretty spiced apple perfume, with touches of musk and white flowers, honey and apricots. The palate is pleasantly lifted and tangy at this stage, hinting at broader, more savory tones to come with time in the bottle.
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Wine Spectator
Crisp and elegant, with dried honeysuckle, pear and dried apricot notes that gain complexity as details of green cardamom, celery leaf, matcha and green apple skin linger on the finish. Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc and Picardan. Drink now.
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.
