May 11, 2023 - Better than my bottle of 11/11/2022. Continues on a very becoming trajectory. Nose has lost a whiff of opulence but on the palate the acidity, Roussanne richness, minerality, and a touch of French oak are firmly in control. The honey and roasted almond character of aged Roussanne is coming into play. This wine might be the star of the 2012 vintage for Tablas Creek.
Very few premium Cali Chardonnays have this level of personality, firmness, and intact fruit at 11 years. Next must check out the 2012 Esprit and Panoplie. Was perfect with smoked trout. 91-93
April 20, 2023 - very interesting
bottle got"lost" in cellar
glad it did
November 11, 2022 - Fully mature and a rather heavy-weight white. Honestly I preferred this in its youthful phase. The ripe, fleshy butterscotch, honey-hazelnut notes are still there but the structure lacks zest. However, everyone but me was unambiguously pleased.
August 13, 2022 - Apple, pear, minerals and rocks. Leaner and more mineral than the younger wine. A delicious pairing with the grilled scallops and granny smith apples with rice vinegar, honey and basil (from the Tablas Creek website).
July 6, 2022 - Delicious !!!!!
May 26, 2021 - Slo-oxed for 15 minutes. Clear light yellow in the glass. Beyond this, I cannot complete any Tasting Note as the wine seemed to be in its "dumb phase", even though Tablas Creek's vintage chart indicates otherwise. The wine was just below cellar temps (50F) when opened, and followed for the better part of an hour as it warmed to room temps (70F), but the results were consistent.
There was virtually no nose, and only some very faint white fruits on the medium palate, followed by a touch of bitterness on the finish. It's not as if the wine was offensive, it's just that it didn't show up. Don't know what to make of this -- dumb phase; over the hill; flawed bottle?? Will not rate.
May 21, 2021 - No formal notes, but I had been saving this, my last of various and sundry White Southern Rhone blends, for dinner with a friend who delights in these. I haven't restocked because I find myself leaning (in whites) to light, powerful Chardonnays and S-SB or S-SB-M blends. I find WSRBs to be more complex, a match for any food, and, bottle for bottle, always interesting, but they can seem a little daunting to open, there being easier and equally delicious choices. But this, throughout dinner with our friend, was complex, elegant, even a little exciting, and delicious indeed.
May 3, 2021 - Tasted blind. The nose is quite rich with apples, stone fruit, minerals/rocks, and jasmine notes. Quite interesting, but difficult to place. Medium acidity with orange notes, a hint of stone fruit, and a waxy character. Again, rich, but not heavy. Nice and long finish. I did settle on a Southern Rhone white, but was surprised this is Californian. Well made!
March 29, 2021 - My experience didn't match those of the other recent reviewers, this felt over-the-hill. Library release from the winery, perhaps an off-bottle?
January 20, 2021 - This is oh so lovely. Still youthful in the glass, but with no rough edges. Marzipan, lemon curd, tangerine and vanilla pudding. Seashells in the finish with a touch of saline. This is a beautiful effort, well worth waiting for. Drink now to 2026. Outstanding.