October 7, 2020 - Certainly more friendly than 4+ years ago, nicely matched our lamb chops, probably even more time would have been welcomed.
March 27, 2016 - Garnet to black. Tar and ripe black fruit nose, berries, cherries, plums. The palate is powerful and concentrated, best either as an aperitif or perhaps with heavily spiced food. The finish displays the expected drying tannins, as well as significant acridity. Slightly toned down on day two, this is an accomplished wine but too much for my personal taste.
November 2, 2015 - Dark red-purple color. Enormous nose of roasted fruits: plum, cherry, berries. On arrival, medium tannin and medium-high acidity; rather stiff. Gamy fruit and nothing else in the mouth, pegging the needle of my fruit-bomb tolerance scale too close to its maximum. It's not bad wine per se, but it's sure not a style I like. Perhaps if one likes hot climate wines (Minervois reds, Barossa valley shiraz, Amador county zinfandel, etc.), this may be one for you. Bottle #1 of one.
February 13, 2014 - Glass-clinging dark purple red in the glass. Purple black in a full drinking pour. Black fruit cobbler and a bit of tar on the nose and palate. Velvety tannins on the long finish. At a real sweet spot now.
April 26, 2013 - Grapey and kind of "burnt" tasting. This may have been due to less than ideal cellaring conditions for a couple of years.
February 25, 2013 - Dark glass-clinging reddish purple; drinking pour is near black. Very closed on opening (surprise, surprise), yielding a little dark fruit under vanilla. Palate is likewise with dark berries and tar (but not in a scary way). Tannins are nice and velvety. After time in the air (as expected), it opens up nicely, yielding black fruit cobbler on the nose and yielding mounds of blackberry licorice creme surrounded by crushed velvet tannins on the palate. Not as rough and rustic as its Southwest France brethren, but a commanding presence in the glass nonetheless. Think Mike Tyson (ca. 1995) in a tux. Wonderful now with a decant. Should bring pleasure for another five to seven years or more.
March 23, 2012 - Deep purple color, lovely, clear nose of dark fruit and leather. Medium body with a 45 second finish.
July 15, 2011 - Dark purple. Brambly, purply nose with smoke and tobacco. Mouthfilling flavor of ripe berries, raspberry and spice. Still pretty fruit forward. Tannins give plenty of grip to an otherwise thin finish. Nice with a big bolognese sauce.
February 18, 2010 - Very nice spicy leathery flavors and purple fruits dominate. A definite dry tannin feel but overall a voluptuous quality. Goes really good with food. I think it's at it's peak NOW before fruit fades and dryness dominates but I am wholly unfamiliar with Tannat except for the few vintages Tablas has put out.
January 7, 2010 - As promised. Popped and poured ... but allowed to sit in glass for 30 minutes. Dark garnet color with a cherry rim. Great nose. Spicy, dusty nose with pronounced leather note. Would have guessed it was a syrah if served blind. Palate gives tart cherries and cassis. A sweet note and chewy. THIS IS GOOD!! Great finish ... goes on for 45 seconds+. The fruit and tannins are almost evenly balanced with just a bit more tannin.
Really like this wine. Tablas continues to make excellent wines that please ... year after year. Surprise your wine drinking friends and serve this blind. They'll never guess.