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.
Blend: 39% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 21% Syrah, 10% Counoise
Ideal pairings include game meat, richly flavored stews, lamb, or beef stir fry.
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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James Suckling
A delightful nose of crushed rose petals, red cherries and rosemary. Full-bodied with fine, well-integrated tannins and dense fruit character. Layered and balanced with a steely, mineral-like backbone. Dried herbs and cocoa come through. Great length. Drink now or hold.
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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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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.
