Winemaker Notes
A classic Esprit nose of red and blackcurrant, graham cracker, new leather, and sweet spice. On the palate, notes of Luxardo cherry, black tea, olallieberry, and both red and black licorice. The finish shows some youthful tannins over plum fruit and sweet spice. Should be appealing young but have plenty of stuffing to age.
Pair with Boeuf Provençale, braised short ribs with black olives and tenderloin of pork with apricots.
Blend: 40% Mourvedre, 27% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 5% Counoise, 4% Cinsaut, 4% Vaccarese
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
An aromatic, vibrant, textural, mourvedre-dominant blend. Full-bodied yet wonderfully balanced with savory umami notes and rich textural acidity that blend seamlessly with the structured tannin. Complex and evolves so much in the glass. From biodynamically grown grapes.
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Vinous
The 2024 Esprit de Tablas is brooding and dark in the glass. It is still in its infantile state and still in tank, showing notes of Earl Grey, crushed violet, peppery blackberries and wet stone. This displays gorgeous textures, nearly velvety, with perfumed wild berry fruits and salty mineral tones elevated by a core of tantalizing acidity. It leaves sweet tannins to frame a licorice core as inner lavender and hints of currant fade. This is an incredibly exciting preview of this young Esprit de Tablas.
Range: 95-97
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.
