T ABLAS CREEK VINEYARD Côtes CdeÔTES Tablas DE TABLAS Blan 2005c 2011 The Tablas Creek Vineyard Côtes de Tablas is a blend of four estate-grownThe Tablas Rhône Creek :Vineyard ,Côtes de Tablas , Blanc Counoise is anda Mourvedre.blend of four Like estate-grown most wines of white the Southern Rhône varietals: Rhône, it is a blendViognier, of varietals, Grenache featuring Blanc, theRoussanne fruitiness and of Grenache . bal- ancedThe by wine, the spice like mostand structure wines ofof theSyrah, Southern with meaty, Rhône, earthy notesis a from blend Mourvedre of varietals, and Counoise.featuring the floral aromatics and stone fruit of , the crisp acids and rich Themouthfeel 2005 vintage of Grenache was one of Blanc,nature’s and lucky the breaks, structure with and excel- lent quality and higher-than-normal yields. The summer was minerality of Marsanne and . uniformly sunny but relatively cool, and harvest began (rela- tively late for us) in the 3rd week of September. The grapes spentThe nearly grapes a formonth our Côteslonger de than Tablas normal Blanc on were the vine, grown and theon resulting our 120-acre wines werecertified intensely organic mineral, estate with vineyard. good struc- ture and powerful aromatics. Our fi rst lots of Syrah came in on TheSeptember 2011 vintage 29th, followedwas our secondby Grenache consecutive on October winter 5th, Mourvedrewith healthy on October rainfall, 11th, but and yields (unusually were dramaticallyfor us, our last varietalreduced harvested) by two Counoise nights of on frost October on April 28th. 8th and 9th, impacting particularly early-sprouting grapes like All Viogniervarietals were and Grenachefermented in Blanc. stainless Despite steel with the the low use of nativecrop loads,yeasts: ripening the Syrah was in open-top slow due fermenters, to a very punched cool down manually, and the other varietals in closed fermen- summer, and harvest roughly three weeks later ters with pump-over aeration. After pressing, the wines were racked,than blended, normal, aged beginning for a year in mid-September in 1200-gallon French and not oak foudres,concluding and then until bottled mid-November. in April 2007. The Warm, wines underwent sunny onlyweather a light fi ltration during before harvest bottling. allowed the later-ripening varieties to reach full maturity. The long hangtime TECHNICAL NOTES Theand 2005 low Côtes yields de combined Tablas has to producean intensely fruit Grenachewith notable nose of rarerichness steak, balanced pepper and by blueberry. higher than It is usualjuicy and acidity, rich in all the 43% Grenache mouth,at low with alcohol ripe tannins levels. and Our a fi nish Viognier laced waswith licorice. harvested 24% Mourvèdre between October 4th and October 13th, Grenache 18% Syrah Blanc between September 29th and October 20th, 15% Counoise Marsanne between September 29th and October TECHNICAL NOTES 17th, and Roussanne between September 22nd and 14.8% Alcohol by Volume 27% Viognier November 8th. 26% 3500 Cases Produced 25% Marsanne All varietals for the Côtes de Tablas Blanc were whole 22% Roussanne FOOD PAIRINGS cluster pressed, and fermented in stainless steel to emphasize their clean crisp flavors and preserve Grilled13.1% Steaks Alcohol by Volume their aromatics. Only native yeasts were used. After Pasta1475 with Cases Meat ProducedSauces fermentation, the wines were racked and blended, Rich Beef Stews and bottled in June 2012. The wine underwent only a SpicyFOOD Sausages PAIRINGS light cold stabilization before bottling. Mussels Marinière Green salads with avocado The 2011 Côtes de Tablas Blanc features a serious and citrus dressing nose, minty with stone fruits and honey lurking Scallops underneath. The mouth is broad and rich, peaches Ceviche and cream, but dry, with a very long finish with a hint Light fish (halibut, sole) of tannin, cream, and rocks, nicely saline at the end. with tropical salsa

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