T ABLAS CREEK VINEYARD Côtes CdeÔTES Tablas DE TABLAS Blan 2005c 2012 The Tablas Creek Vineyard Côtes de Tablas is a blend of four estate-grownThe Tablas Rhône Creek : Vineyard , 2012 , Côtes Counoise de andTablas Mourvedre. Blanc Like is most a blend wines of of the four Southern estate-grown Rhône, it is a blendwhite of Rhônevarietals, varietals.featuring the The fruitiness wine, of Grenache like most bal- anced by the spice and structure of Syrah, with meaty, earthy noteswines from ofMourvedre the Southern and Counoise. Rhône, is a blend of varietals, featuring the floral aromatics and Thestone 2005 vintagefruit of was , one of nature’s the crisp lucky acids breaks, and with rich excel- lentmouthfeel quality and of higher-than-normal , yields. and Thethe summerstructure was uniformlyand minerality sunny but relatively of cool, and and harvest . began (rela- tively late for us) in the 3rd week of September. The grapes spentThe nearly grapes a month for our longer Côtes than de normal Tablas on Blanc the vine, were and thegrown resulting on wines our 120-acrewere intensely certified mineral, organic with good estate struc- turevineyard. and powerful The aromatics. 2012 vintage Our fi rstwas lots a ofclassic Syrah Pasocame in on RoblesSeptember vintage, 29th, followed warm by and Grenache sunny, on butOctober with 5th, Mourvedreabove-average on October yields 11th, thanksand (unusually to average for us, winter our last harvested) Counoise on October 28th. rainfall and the frost-reduced 2011 crop. Despite All thevarietals warm were summer, fermented ripening in stainless was slowedsteel with due the to use of nativethe healthy yeasts: crop the Syrah levels, in open-topand harvest fermenters, at a normal punched downtime manually, starting and in early the otherSeptember varietals and in closedfinishing fermen- in terslate with October. pump-over The aeration. resulting After winespressing, showed the wines lush, were racked, blended, aged for a year in 1200-gallon French oak foudres,juicy andfruit, then balanced bottled in by April good 2007. acids, The wines and underwentshould onlyprovide a light fi ltration enormous before early bottling. appeal. Our Viognier was harvested between September 8th and TECHNICAL NOTES The28th, 2005 Grenache Côtes de Tablas Blanc has between an intensely September Grenache 21st nose of rare steak, pepper and blueberry. It is juicy and rich in the 43% Grenache mouth,and with October ripe tannins 15th, and Marsanne a fi nish laced on with September licorice. 24% Mourvèdre 26th and October 17th, and Roussanne 18% Syrah between September 7nd and October 22nd. 15% Counoise All varietals for the Côtes de Tablas Blanc TECHNICAL NOTES were whole cluster pressed, and fermented in 14.8% Alcohol by Volume 34% Viognier stainless steel to emphasize their clean crisp 30% Marsanne flavors and preserve their aromatics. Only 350030% Cases Grenache Produced Blanc 6% Roussanne native yeasts were used. After fermentation, FOOD PAIRINGS the wines were racked and blended, and bottled in June 2013. The wine underwent only a light Grilled13.0% Steaks Alcohol by Volume Pasta1725 with Cases Meat ProducedSauces cold stabilization before bottling. Rich Beef Stews SpicyFOOD Sausages PAIRINGS The 2012 Côtes de Tablas Blanc features an Mussels Marinière immensely appealing nose of peaches and Green salads with avocado cream, lightened by a pretty minty note. The and citrus dressing mouth is medium weight with stone fruit, white Scallops flowers, a creamy texture and a pleasing saline Ceviche mineral note at the end that helps keep the long Light fish (halibut, sole) finish clean and fresh. with tropical salsa

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