May 10, 2024 - A GSMC(Counoise)T(Tannat). For some time these bottles were in an awkward area of my cellar, and thus benefit from a bit of extra aging.
I thought this would be a secondary bottling... but it is radiant... so well balanced and yet still youthful in the glass. likely still very nicely set to drink well for over another 5+ years... still i love where it is right now.
March 13, 2024 - I popped this open last night. It is textbook for what it is, which is largely Grenache and Mourvèdre. Perfectly mature this is drinking very well and I would enjoy it more if I were bigger fans of two of its primary components. Nonetheless it has a nice chocolatey finish. Little signs of advanced age. 4-12-16-8: 90/100.
March 12, 2024 - Decanted for 30 minutes... drinking beautifully
July 30, 2022 - Decanted 1 hr. Drank over 2 days. Day 1 was nice, but not notable. Day 2 had a delightful nose and lively tastes. Nose had nice cherry notes. Tastes of red fruits (day 1) and cherry & meatiness (day 2). Well balanced blend.
June 25, 2022 - Very red cherry color to the glass. Actually has really nice red fruit floral perfume nose. Red Bing cherries, black cherry, boysenberry. The palate is medium bodied, reminiscent of the nose. Really nice accoutrement with dinner and would be a nice poolside wine actually because it does not sit heavy and would go with a huge variety of foods, nuts cheeses etc. Really in a good spot right now, and can go another 5 to 7 years quite easily.
September 25, 2021 - My 3rd of 4 bottles purchased several years ago. It seemed to show a nice rustic side which was appreciated. Lovely stuff and drinking in a nice spot now.
July 11, 2021 - Second of two bottles.
Really singing now with a beautiful nose showcasing dark fruit, eucalyptus, bramble and smoke.
Primary fruit still shining through- perhaps a bit much for some folks, but also enough structure to hold up to a lightly salted and peppered NY steak - which brought out wonderful spice notes.
Not as complex as other wines in the TC lineup but definitely a QPR winner.
July 12, 2020 - I can’t do any better than WILYPOD’s review; he nailed it. (Wish I would have read it before pouring this because I would have sounded a lot smarter at dinner.) The edges have been nicely buffed off of this offering, and it’s pretty near peak. Enchanting lilac and lavender in the nose, with macerated cherries and blueberries on the palate. A long finish that begs for another sip. Delicious. Drink now to 2025.
March 6, 2020 - The 2014 Tablas Creek reds display a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon-like ripeness and character. The tannins of this En Gobelet are a bit chalkier than typical for this estate, and the red-fruitedness is also deeper than typical, but do not really resemble a black-fruit blackberry, cassis, dark plum character. The high percentage of Grenache definitely provides some tart morello snap up front. What is beautiful is the way the other components (Syrah and Tannat especially) sustain the bold red beginning without altering that red-fruitedness, adding length and tannin.
Having tasted a number of vintages of En Gobelet, I would guess that 2014 is at its youthful peak, like the 2012, whereas the 2013 and 2015 are taking their time. For my palate at least, the 2014 is in an ideal drinking window. If you have 55 F controlled storage this window might go another 3--4 years.
February 12, 2020 - Definitely a food wine.....Opened and consumed over a 2 hour period. The nose was somewhat reticent, with scents of violet, and dark fruit, especially mulberry. Palate was more generous, with muted acidity, more dark fruit, and a bit of tar. The tannins were a bit drying (Tannat?), but overall was delicious with a Rack of Lamb. Perhaps a little more bottle age and/or decanting would make it even better.