Winemaker Notes
An intense Mourvèdre nose of spiced plum, sarsaparilla, loamy earth, and new leather. The palate is mouth-coating with flavors of black cherry, teriyaki marinade, baker's chocolate and iron. The long, richly tannic finish promises more rewards to come with cellar aging, and leaves lingering flavors of plum skin and roasted meats.
Pair with Boeuf Provencale, braised short ribs or tenderloin of pork.
Blend: 39% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 21% Syrah, 10% Counoise
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2019 Esprit de Tablas opens with a youthfully coiled blend of black cherries and dusty rose complicated by nuances of spiced citrus and clove. It’s seamlessly silky in feel, nearly dense, with crisp mineral tones up front and brisk acidity invigorating its tart wild berry fruits. A gentle tug of fine tannin frames the finish as the 2019 tapers off long and fresh. The 2019 is a cool-toned and classic Esprit de Tablas that’s built for the cellar. I expect this to mature evenly for another 15 years or more. The 2019 growing season started cool but ended quite warm, leading to a compressed harvest, but the fruit that came into the winery was remarkably healthy and perfectly ripe.
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Wine Enthusiast
Proprietor Jason Haas is amplifying the freshness on his family’s estate wines, as evidenced in this blend of 39% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 21% Syrah and 10% Counoise. Snappy and vibrant aromas of raspberry and fennel pollen lead into a bright palate of lavender, smashed red fruits and delicate chaparral herbs. Editors’ Choice.
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Wine & Spirits
A blend of about 40 percent mourvedre, the balance grenache, syrah and counoise, this is plush and lively, plainly in the red spectrum of fruit, with a zin-like directness and an earthy, mildly leathery grip of tannins.
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Wine Spectator
Tightly focused and wiry in structure, with brooding dried cherry, smoky meat and grilled anise accents that build toward firm tannins. Hands off this one for now. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah and Counoise. Best from 2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 39% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 21% Syrah and 10% Counoise, the 2019 Esprit de Tablas has a pale ruby color and aromas of wild red and black berries, citrus peel, dusty earth and dried flowers. The palate is earthy and gently rustic in texture, with a juicy, mushroom-laced finish.
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.
