2013 Lone Madrone Picpoul Blanc Paso Robles

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 92 points

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  11/7/2014 - awineo Likes this wine: 92 Points

  This is an unusual grape. I like solid acidity, but fruit forward and this one delivers. Below is the write-up from Tablas Creek on the grape. Neil is the winemaker for Tablas Creek and Lone Madrone.
  
  PICPOUL at Tablas Creek
  
  We did not import Picpoul with our initial eight varieties in 1989. After the original eight were established in the vineyard, we decided that the consistent sun and long growing season at Tablas Creek might prove to be well-suited to varietals that in France are lean and high in acidity. Picpoul, with its reputation for sharp acidity, was the first of these high-acid whites that we brought into quarantine, and was in fact the first supplemental varietal we brought in of any sort. It was released from quarantine in 1998, and we spent the next two years propagating and grafting it. We planted approximately one acre of Picpoul in 2000, and received our first significant harvest in 2003. It has been such a success that we grafted over two acres of Roussanne to Picpoul in the winter of 2005, and got our first harvest from that new acreage in the fall of 2008. We plan to plant two additional acres of Picpoul in the next few years.
  
  In the vineyard, Picpoul is not a difficult varietal to grow. It pushes early, making it somewhat susceptible to frost, but ripens relatively late. Along with Roussanne, Picpoul is usually the last white varietal to be brought in, just before Mourvèdre (the last red of the season) at the end of October. In the winery, we ferment it in neutral barrels to complement the grape’s brightness with a bit of roundness.
  
  When we first bottled Picpoul, it was necessary to petition the Tax and Trade Bureau to recognize the varietal, a process we had undergone with several other varietals, including Grenache Blanc, Counoise and Tannat. In February of 2004, our petition was formally approved.
  
  Although we have sold Picpoul vines to a handful of other vineyards around California, virtually none of it is in production yet. But based on the recent interest that we have seen for our nursery vines, it has a bright future here.
  Aromas and Flavors
  
  We have found that, in California, Picpoul maintains its bright acidity, but also develops an appealing tropical lushness. It is quite rich in the mouth, with an exceptionally long finish. When we have enough fruit, we bottle Picpoul Blanc as a single varietal, and the wine shows a rich nose of pear, pineapple and spice. In the mouth, buttery flavors of pineapple and orange are balanced by crisp acids, and the long, rich finish shows flavors of piña colada.
  
  Although French Picpouls are not typically thought to age, the richer California versions seem to be better able to handle some time in bottle. We recently opened a Picpoul from the library to complement a delicious recipe from Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home cookbook. The recipe (Crispy braised chicken thighs with olives, lemon and fennel; page 30 for those of you with the book) had classic Provencal flavors that made a wonderful pairing, and the wine was was lush and bright, youthful and pretty. Highly recommended.
  - See more at: http://www.tablascreek.com/vineyard_and_winemaking/grapes/picpoul#sthash.8kC4TvVq.dpuf

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