Surprisingly youthful with tart fruit and prominent minerality. Some gold tones and a rounded feel to the tart fruit were the only signs of age. Big mouthful of flavor. Its peak is maybe 4-8 years away. My only quibble is that when all is said and done the cool vintage did not lend itself to full phenolic ripeness.
Early Father’s Day dinner with H&M. Bloomed beautifully without a decant. Golden in the glass. Earthy and nutty marzipan notes blended with orchard fruits and a dosage of minerals. And a long finish. Can’t imagine this will get better. Drink now at slightly below cellar temp. Worth Seeking Out.
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Darker, golden color. Big, intense nose of bruised yellow apples (from the orchard ground). Lively, citrus and bruised yellow apple flavors. Full, medium (+) intense body. Medium (+) acidity. Tangy finish. Reminiscent of hard apple cider. Probably over the hill, now. Went well with acorn squash stuffed with a ground turkey/green pepper/rice mixture.
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No notes, but drinking well right now with well-carried density, some grip, showing some slight, pleasant bitterness on night #2 (having been poured into a vessel with very little air space). This could probably last several more years at ideal conditions, but closer to peak for those without a steady 56F cellar.
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Saturday nite's alright for...tasting: Used this wine in a blind tasting lineup, against 2 Chards. Clocking in at 13% abv, this wine was less obvious and alcoholic than I was expecting. Half the attendees liked it as their WOTN. It was 3rd out of 3 for me. Spice and pear, red delicious apple skin and some chalk. Well bridled acidity in what I thought would be a more oily and viscous presentation. A very good wine, good complexity at this price point, I think it mixed some folks up nicely at the tasting, so it did it's job. Drink now through 2017+.
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We got this bottle from Tablas Creek’s (T.C.) wine club back in September 2012. Even though their vintage chart lists this wine as too hot/young, since it’s the oldest white wine we own, I decided to go ahead and open it anyway since we’ve had the bottle for almost three years and the grapes were harvested almost four years ago. The bouquet exhibits mostly smoke, earth, and oak elements. The second I popped the cork, the aromas/bouquet jumped out of the bottle and practically tackled my olfactory sensors. In addition to the smoke, earth, and oak, there’s a slight floral element as well. The bouquet clearly hints at some of the flavor profiles as well. There is indeed some serious smoke and earthy elements in the flavor profile, though flavor-wise, the oak doesn’t truly add to the profile (flavor-wise). 99.999999999999% of the fruit elements are similar to quince, pear, and apple. The secondary elements are the previously-mentioned smoke and earth (via mostly a mineral/stony essence). Next up to the plate are dried herbs and a significant amount of white pepper. There’s a slight waxy element as well, which adds to the wine’s “weight” and “heft.” Thanks to the wine’s white pepper, stoniness, and structural elements, the food-friendly and palate-cleansing essence makes this white a fabulous food-friendly wine with a significant, lingering finish. This beauty is rich and creamy, with significant structure (tannins and acidity). This is also a serious medium-bodied white that should be paired with “serious” proteins. I paired this wine with seared scallops, and the wine paired beautifully. This white would also pair well with just about any/all seafoods (salmon, crab, lobster, mussels, clams, medium-to-heavy-bodied white fishes, etc.). I suppose this wine would also pair well with rich, vegetable-based creamy soups, as well as quiches and other tart-like appetizers and/or main courses. Like all of T.C.’s wines, this beauty has the structural elements to last for many years. Even though their vintage chart lists this wine as too young, I think it’s drinking pretty well right now, but thanks to its structure, it probably would/could last for many more years (perhaps up to ten more years?!?!?!). As usual for T.C., this is a VERY interesting and deeply-flavored and complexly-flavored/structured white that is drinking well right now and will probably continue to drink well for many years to come.
Quite austere at first, but opened up with air and food. Enjoyable with a mildly spicy fish dish. Decent wine but TC's blends are far superior. Interesting to taste the variety on its own. Holding up well and should continue to do so.
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I like it, but it was probably better in my Dec. 2012 review. This seems to have gone as far as it's going to go. It doesn't have lots of complexity, just kind of the fruit and minerality and a bit of a bitterness to it. Still, it is a nice enough wine, pleasing, and somewhat versatile.
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An unorthodox Roussanne, displaying strong minerality and tart citrus. The stone fruit component I associate with the grape is lacking. Not my idea of what a white Rhone varietal should taste like.
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Somewhat unexpected floral and mineral notes on the nose (none of that carmel, nuttiness of a typical roussanne); white peach, stone fruit and nectar on the palate. Good acid. Tasty.
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Yellow to pale gold, slightly cloudy, this Roussane is filled with ripe white peach and nectarine flavors, with slightly bitter lemon and orange zest, lots of floral components, and a spicy medium finish. Very nice and quite interesting.
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As noted by other reviews, another intriguing, verging on outstanding wine from Tablas Creek. To my tastes the dominant sense was of minerals, followed by a slight bit of honey and pear. The fruit flavor was much restrained and the overall balance, and mouth feel, was pleasant, while not overly strong or hitting you in the face. This paired well with sushi and we shared it with friends for a birthday lunch. I can't judge if it would have continued to age well, it felt like this was at the best of its form. This, to my taste, would have been better in one of the blends that Tablas Creek perfects, rather than on its own.
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I think (hope) this was a bad bottle. If not, I rate it a 69. Tasted extremely tart and minerally. Dumped after 2 glasses. Kept in wine fridge before opening.
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Rich yellow in color. Green apples and pear on the nose. Viscous mouthfeel with ripe melon a bit of hay and a lingering finish hinting of dried apricot. Delightful.
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The jury is still out on this recent bottling. The nose is nuanced and pretty. The body seems a bit hollowed out and leaves me a bit unsatisfied. Still, quite nice. Tentative '88'.
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I find this wine very difficult to rate particularly after reading some of the other reviews. The wine has a beautiful color, very pleasant aromas of honey, pineapples and spice with very long legs. In the mouth this is were I at have a difficult problem rating this wine. The wine has a great feel in the mouth but not much flavor except for some nice acidity which does linger for a while. I like Roussanne and I am a big fan of Tablas Creek but this wine does not do it for me.
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Opened accidentally, thinking I was opening a bottle of Antithesis...I would have held this longer. Pears and honeysuckle, pears and honeysuckle. Very nice but I'm sure it would have presented even better if cellared for a year or so.
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The texture and feel of a New World Chardonnay, but the flavors of a Sauvignon Blanc. Interesting. But, in my opinion, I prefer one or the other -- not a hybrid of the best of both worlds. Also has a unpleasant background note of insect repellant -- which I admit completely dissipated after a couple of hours of air. Recommended for the intellectual value, but not an enthusiastic endorsement. Bravo for the 13% alcohol.
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Color: bright straw yellow with slight cloudiness. Nice nose on PnP of grapefruit, lychee, and a deft, light touch of oak. Palate displayed tasty elements of lemongrass, minerality, limes. Lively acidity and good structure; hoping for just a little more length in the finish. Shows excellent varietal typicity. More european and lighter on its feet that some of the more extracted roussannes I've had from California. All in all, very nice.
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Bright with great energy, especially for a Paso roussanne. Med+ body and structured... CdP like with its serious demeanor. Grassy pears, white flowers, honeysuckle, cool minerality, and some nice savory elements. Bright and delicious though this is begging for some short to mid term cellaring. Nice balance between structure/ageability and current generosity. Outstanding white. 91-92+
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7/5/2021 - Srsnyder Likes this wine: 89 Points
Purchased from TB upon release, in storage since. In a good place, maybe a year or two left before it’s decline.
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10/25/2020 - wilypod Likes this wine: 88 Points
Surprisingly youthful with tart fruit and prominent minerality. Some gold tones and a rounded feel to the tart fruit were the only signs of age. Big mouthful of flavor. Its peak is maybe 4-8 years away. My only quibble is that when all is said and done the cool vintage did not lend itself to full phenolic ripeness.
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6/20/2020 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
Early Father’s Day dinner with H&M. Bloomed beautifully without a decant. Golden in the glass. Earthy and nutty marzipan notes blended with orchard fruits and a dosage of minerals. And a long finish. Can’t imagine this will get better. Drink now at slightly below cellar temp. Worth Seeking Out.
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11/30/2019 - TrasKY wrote: 92 Points
Drink it now at about 60 degrees. Spectacular.
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10/1/2018 - mtwehr Likes this wine: 86 Points
Darker, golden color. Big, intense nose of bruised yellow apples (from the orchard ground). Lively, citrus and bruised yellow apple flavors. Full, medium (+) intense body. Medium (+) acidity. Tangy finish. Reminiscent of hard apple cider. Probably over the hill, now. Went well with acorn squash stuffed with a ground turkey/green pepper/rice mixture.
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4/21/2017 - tward Likes this wine: 89 Points
No notes, but drinking well right now with well-carried density, some grip, showing some slight, pleasant bitterness on night #2 (having been poured into a vessel with very little air space). This could probably last several more years at ideal conditions, but closer to peak for those without a steady 56F cellar.
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9/12/2015 - drrobvino wrote: 88 Points
Saturday nite's alright for...tasting: Used this wine in a blind tasting lineup, against 2 Chards.
Clocking in at 13% abv, this wine was less obvious and alcoholic than I was expecting. Half the attendees liked it as their WOTN. It was 3rd out of 3 for me.
Spice and pear, red delicious apple skin and some chalk. Well bridled acidity in what I thought would be a more oily and viscous presentation.
A very good wine, good complexity at this price point, I think it mixed some folks up nicely at the tasting, so it did it's job. Drink now through 2017+.
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8/21/2015 - DaveZack Likes this wine: 90 Points
We got this bottle from Tablas Creek’s (T.C.) wine club back in September 2012. Even though their vintage chart lists this wine as too hot/young, since it’s the oldest white wine we own, I decided to go ahead and open it anyway since we’ve had the bottle for almost three years and the grapes were harvested almost four years ago.
The bouquet exhibits mostly smoke, earth, and oak elements. The second I popped the cork, the aromas/bouquet jumped out of the bottle and practically tackled my olfactory sensors. In addition to the smoke, earth, and oak, there’s a slight floral element as well.
The bouquet clearly hints at some of the flavor profiles as well. There is indeed some serious smoke and earthy elements in the flavor profile, though flavor-wise, the oak doesn’t truly add to the profile (flavor-wise). 99.999999999999% of the fruit elements are similar to quince, pear, and apple. The secondary elements are the previously-mentioned smoke and earth (via mostly a mineral/stony essence). Next up to the plate are dried herbs and a significant amount of white pepper. There’s a slight waxy element as well, which adds to the wine’s “weight” and “heft.” Thanks to the wine’s white pepper, stoniness, and structural elements, the food-friendly and palate-cleansing essence makes this white a fabulous food-friendly wine with a significant, lingering finish.
This beauty is rich and creamy, with significant structure (tannins and acidity). This is also a serious medium-bodied white that should be paired with “serious” proteins. I paired this wine with seared scallops, and the wine paired beautifully. This white would also pair well with just about any/all seafoods (salmon, crab, lobster, mussels, clams, medium-to-heavy-bodied white fishes, etc.). I suppose this wine would also pair well with rich, vegetable-based creamy soups, as well as quiches and other tart-like appetizers and/or main courses.
Like all of T.C.’s wines, this beauty has the structural elements to last for many years. Even though their vintage chart lists this wine as too young, I think it’s drinking pretty well right now, but thanks to its structure, it probably would/could last for many more years (perhaps up to ten more years?!?!?!). As usual for T.C., this is a VERY interesting and deeply-flavored and complexly-flavored/structured white that is drinking well right now and will probably continue to drink well for many years to come.
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7/29/2015 - dlduchon wrote: 87 Points
Quite austere at first, but opened up with air and food. Enjoyable with a mildly spicy fish dish. Decent wine but TC's blends are far superior. Interesting to taste the variety on its own. Holding up well and should continue to do so.
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7/8/2015 - Wineson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very tasty. Held up well against the two Chards that we had.
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7/7/2015 - tward Likes this wine: 87 Points
I like it, but it was probably better in my Dec. 2012 review. This seems to have gone as far as it's going to go. It doesn't have lots of complexity, just kind of the fruit and minerality and a bit of a bitterness to it. Still, it is a nice enough wine, pleasing, and somewhat versatile.
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7/5/2015 - urban_dk wrote: 85 Points
An unorthodox Roussanne, displaying strong minerality and tart citrus. The stone fruit component I associate with the grape is lacking. Not my idea of what a white Rhone varietal should taste like.
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6/2/2014 - vino_per_tutti Likes this wine: 89 Points
Somewhat unexpected floral and mineral notes on the nose (none of that carmel, nuttiness of a typical roussanne); white peach, stone fruit and nectar on the palate. Good acid. Tasty.
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4/21/2014 - JDRFoster wrote: 90 Points
Yellow to pale gold, slightly cloudy, this Roussane is filled with ripe white peach and nectarine flavors, with slightly bitter lemon and orange zest, lots of floral components, and a spicy medium finish. Very nice and quite interesting.
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9/14/2013 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 90 Points
As noted by other reviews, another intriguing, verging on outstanding wine from Tablas Creek. To my tastes the dominant sense was of minerals, followed by a slight bit of honey and pear. The fruit flavor was much restrained and the overall balance, and mouth feel, was pleasant, while not overly strong or hitting you in the face. This paired well with sushi and we shared it with friends for a birthday lunch. I can't judge if it would have continued to age well, it felt like this was at the best of its form. This, to my taste, would have been better in one of the blends that Tablas Creek perfects, rather than on its own.
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8/31/2013 - bbcc66 Does not like this wine:
I think (hope) this was a bad bottle. If not, I rate it a 69. Tasted extremely tart and minerally. Dumped after 2 glasses. Kept in wine fridge before opening.
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8/28/2013 - rplumbo wrote: 92 Points
Dark golden color. Pretty. Bright and full of energy. Last bottle. Paired well with a salad from the garden.
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7/8/2013 - Tom Warden wrote: 90 Points
Somewhat bold yet fruity and pleasing. Beautiful golden color plus a bit of minerality...quite nice.
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6/1/2013 - SonomaWilliam wrote: 90 Points
amazing aromatics. Wonderful now,but so much potential to unlock with cellaring. Sitting on the rest.
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4/19/2013 - snaff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich yellow in color. Green apples and pear on the nose. Viscous mouthfeel with ripe melon a bit of hay and a lingering finish hinting of dried apricot. Delightful.
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4/7/2013 - SeenMyKeyz wrote: 89 Points
LOVE anything from Tablas Creek - this Rousanne was smooth with notes of grapefruit, honeysuckle. Beautiful white wine - we drank with shrimp scampi.
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4/2/2013 - firstgrowth wrote: 90 Points
Excellent with pasta with pesto sauce. Citrus, heavy, tasty & complex.
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1/22/2013 - Mpoob wrote:
'13-'23, Tablas Creek
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12/16/2012 - tward Likes this wine:
The jury is still out on this recent bottling. The nose is nuanced and pretty. The body seems a bit hollowed out and leaves me a bit unsatisfied. Still, quite nice. Tentative '88'.
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11/30/2012 - bzell wrote: 82 Points
I find this wine very difficult to rate particularly after reading some of the other reviews. The wine has a beautiful color, very pleasant aromas of honey, pineapples and spice with very long legs. In the mouth this is were I at have a difficult problem rating this wine. The wine has a great feel in the mouth but not much flavor except for some nice acidity which does linger for a while. I like Roussanne and I am a big fan of Tablas Creek but this wine does not do it for me.
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11/25/2012 - Annie1 wrote: 87 Points
Opened accidentally, thinking I was opening a bottle of Antithesis...I would have held this longer. Pears and honeysuckle, pears and honeysuckle. Very nice but I'm sure it would have presented even better if cellared for a year or so.
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11/24/2012 - THA wrote:
The texture and feel of a New World Chardonnay, but the flavors of a Sauvignon Blanc. Interesting. But, in my opinion, I prefer one or the other -- not a hybrid of the best of both worlds. Also has a unpleasant background note of insect repellant -- which I admit completely dissipated after a couple of hours of air. Recommended for the intellectual value, but not an enthusiastic endorsement. Bravo for the 13% alcohol.
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10/15/2012 - BVal wrote: 90 Points
Color: bright straw yellow with slight cloudiness. Nice nose on PnP of grapefruit, lychee, and a deft, light touch of oak. Palate displayed tasty elements of lemongrass, minerality, limes. Lively acidity and good structure; hoping for just a little more length in the finish. Shows excellent varietal typicity. More european and lighter on its feet that some of the more extracted roussannes I've had from California. All in all, very nice.
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10/7/2012 - Redguy wrote: 92 Points
Bright with great energy, especially for a Paso roussanne. Med+ body and structured... CdP like with its serious demeanor. Grassy pears, white flowers, honeysuckle, cool minerality, and some nice savory elements. Bright and delicious though this is begging for some short to mid term cellaring. Nice balance between structure/ageability and current generosity. Outstanding white. 91-92+
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