Excellent++ This lone bottle of 2012 Tablas Creek Tannat had been slumbering for eight years in the cellar and was ready for its night with cassoulet where it was a great pairing. This Tannat is also drinking great on its own. Opens with spice box on the nose and some eucalyptus, sour cherry in the mouth, faint cigar comes in on the nose, plummy and even a hint of chocolate (are we sure no Mourvedre found its way in there), with air cedar, tart blackberry, prune, a hint of licorice, pine forest, hints of smoke. Great core of dark fruits, but mid+ weight. Tannins are resolved and show just a tiny bite.
(Given that this bottle was stored in good, dark conditions, around average temperature in the low-60s F, bottles stored at ideal 55 F might still be somewhat youthful and could require a decant?)
14.1% abv
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I like both Tannat and Petite Sirah, two of the more tannic red wines on offer. It is peculiar that I enjoy them both young when the tannins are quite assertive. At ten years this wine is still puckering but not at all forbidding. Bright color, good acidity, black cherry fruit. There is also good minerality and a touch of glazed teriyaki.
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I must say, one of the best pure tannat bottlings I have enjoyed. Needed a 3 hour decant, but really opened up. I would drink up, but there is still life in this wine.
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Cherry and plum. Long legs. Opens up after an hour decant. Balance of sweet and tart with a dry finish on the tip of the tongue. Aromas of oak and vanilla.
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One of the better TCV Tannats I have had in a while. I had just finished reading the TCV Blog on the 10 year look back and they said this was ready to drink. I agree, but there is still some life left. Very nice wine.
Absolutely awesome (better) with food! Some decanting time would be beneficial. This wine hits the mark between structure and softness for me. One of the best wines I've tasted in a year or so.
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purchased in 2015, and would still benefit from more aging time -- drinking well and already excellent, but as noted by others, benefits from decanting and letting it open up --
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The wine is very young, I double decanted it 6 times. The wine has red fruit, spice, herbal notes, acidity, and finishes with some salty meat. I like the wine, can believe how young it was. A-
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Tight, as young Tannat often is when first popped. With tannins that pucker the palate. But a lovely, pure bouquet that hints at violets, cinnamon and crushed dark berries. Definitely needs a decant right now, which unfurls the flag nicely. (Coming up on 4th of July, after all.) After an hour in the decanter, the tannins recede slightly, allowing more black and blue fruits to join the fun. Elements of baked bread in the bouquet and on the palate. Still in its infancy, this promises to open up and be enjoyed 2022 to 2030. (= Worth Seeking Out)
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As we always said, nothing like a Tannat on a Friday night paired with Tacos . It is quite interesting to explore this southern Rhone blending grape as a stand alone varietal, which Tablas Creek did a wonderful job crafting it. Dried plummy and blackberry fruit flavors, smoked jamón, with distinctive spices of anise, nutmeg and cinnamon. Has a succulent dry finish with a nice level of tannins.
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I forgot I had this wine and wow I should have gotten more. Tablas Creek wines never disappointed and this was no exception. Everything about this wine is first class from its beautiful color, long legs, deep notes on the nose, rich multiple tastes on the palate and a long fruity finish. This is an easy wine to match food with.
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Not overly beefy or scruffy or tannic as I was expecting. This is a suave Tannat, indicative of the heights the Tablas Crew might achieve if they were in Oakville. Smooth with dark fruit, cigar emporium, cherry tobacco, and underneath some minerality. Very long, very BBQ on the back porch elegant.
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Really nice wine. Opened a bit young, because I needed something that would stand up to a pretty strong garlic-peppercorn sauce. Decanted 2 hours, and this did the trick admirably. Really, really nice, and big and strong to boot.
Color: Deep, dark purple. The same up until the edges, where it (barely) thins out a tiny bit. A few thin legs. Nose: Chalk, baking chocolate, figs. Everything goes well together. Maybe a hint of ginger. A bit of sarsaparilla on the back-end. Taste: Mmmm... nice. Initially some tart boysenberry pie, hints of granny-smith apples, Maybe some blackberries? Rounds out into ripe plums (without the sugar), juniper berries, a hint of cacao. Something a bit gamey and smokey is going on too. Nice tannins and mineral backbone; good structure. NICE long tannic finish (30 seconds+) of limestone powder, atomized welch's grape juice, and mesquite.
Really really nice wine. The structure is there to age this guy many, many more years, but with proper decanting it's drinking nicely now. 93+.
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Black purple with a red-violet rim. Very dark, pretty much opaque. Good legs. Black-purple fruit in the nose. Dark, dark chocolate. Pretty sleek, polished mouthfeel. Big, bold, tannic. Tightly wound, could use a lot of time. As it is, this was opened last night. 5-11-15-8: 89/100.
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Bottle test, picked up month prior from winery. Opened after having a smoked bbq dinner. Bold fruit, lots of tannin. after 2 hours wine was still tight. This wine will develop with age.
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5/20/2023 - tward Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent++
This lone bottle of 2012 Tablas Creek Tannat had been slumbering for eight years in the cellar and was ready for its night with cassoulet where it was a great pairing. This Tannat is also drinking great on its own. Opens with spice box on the nose and some eucalyptus, sour cherry in the mouth, faint cigar comes in on the nose, plummy and even a hint of chocolate (are we sure no Mourvedre found its way in there), with air cedar, tart blackberry, prune, a hint of licorice, pine forest, hints of smoke. Great core of dark fruits, but mid+ weight. Tannins are resolved and show just a tiny bite.
(Given that this bottle was stored in good, dark conditions, around average temperature in the low-60s F, bottles stored at ideal 55 F might still be somewhat youthful and could require a decant?)
14.1% abv
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1/15/2023 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 91 Points
Above average wine. Drinking really well right now. Nice fruit and complexity
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8/10/2022 - wilypod Likes this wine: 89 Points
I like both Tannat and Petite Sirah, two of the more tannic red wines on offer. It is peculiar that I enjoy them both young when the tannins are quite assertive. At ten years this wine is still puckering but not at all forbidding. Bright color, good acidity, black cherry fruit. There is also good minerality and a touch of glazed teriyaki.
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7/18/2022 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
I must say, one of the best pure tannat bottlings I have enjoyed. Needed a 3 hour decant, but really opened up. I would drink up, but there is still life in this wine.
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4/1/2022 - bstouch wrote: 92 Points
Cherry and plum. Long legs. Opens up after an hour decant. Balance of sweet and tart with a dry finish on the tip of the tongue. Aromas of oak and vanilla.
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1/21/2022 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is one of the better TCV Tannats I have had and it is just perfect right now with a 2-3 hour decant
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1/15/2022 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking perfectly after an hour of air.
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1/11/2022 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the better TCV Tannats I have had in a while. I had just finished reading the TCV Blog on the 10 year look back and they said this was ready to drink. I agree, but there is still some life left. Very nice wine.
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12/25/2021 - agsdlswine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well aged w/dark fruit color, full flavor w/fruit, mineral & spice. Excellent wine in a very good spot now.
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5/27/2021 - Stampeder Likes this wine: 92 Points
It did open up more with some air. Tart cherry with some depth. Hit of pepper. Good mouth feel. Really gained strength with dinner.
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3/23/2021 - citizen1 wrote: 85 Points
Prune - a bit flat. Not a huge fan.
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8/17/2020 - Mooserun Likes this wine: 91 Points
Did a tasting with 2 other Tannats: 2013 Lone Madrone & 2014 Brecon.
All three were wonderful...it was interesting to see the difference.
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5/23/2020 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 1/2 hr. Medium body. Consistent tastes of cherry (I say tart. Wife says not tart.) & darker fruits.
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3/17/2020 - SLOman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely awesome (better) with food! Some decanting time would be beneficial. This wine hits the mark between structure and softness for me. One of the best wines I've tasted in a year or so.
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10/23/2019 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 91 Points
purchased in 2015, and would still benefit from more aging time -- drinking well and already excellent, but as noted by others, benefits from decanting and letting it open up --
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5/19/2019 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine is very young, I double decanted it 6 times. The wine has red fruit, spice, herbal notes, acidity, and finishes with some salty meat. I like the wine, can believe how young it was. A-
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9/2/2018 - yatchisin Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened at a party, so only got a taste. Love turning people on to this varietal given it's usually a blending grape. Smoky and intriguing.
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6/29/2018 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
Tight, as young Tannat often is when first popped. With tannins that pucker the palate. But a lovely, pure bouquet that hints at violets, cinnamon and crushed dark berries. Definitely needs a decant right now, which unfurls the flag nicely. (Coming up on 4th of July, after all.) After an hour in the decanter, the tannins recede slightly, allowing more black and blue fruits to join the fun. Elements of baked bread in the bouquet and on the palate. Still in its infancy, this promises to open up and be enjoyed 2022 to 2030. (= Worth Seeking Out)
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10/22/2017 - Stockhausen Likes this wine: 96 Points
Lovely red fruit medium bodied wine
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7/14/2017 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 91 Points
As we always said, nothing like a Tannat on a Friday night paired with Tacos . It is quite interesting to explore this southern Rhone blending grape as a stand alone varietal, which Tablas Creek did a wonderful job crafting it. Dried plummy and blackberry fruit flavors, smoked jamón, with distinctive spices of anise, nutmeg and cinnamon. Has a succulent dry finish with a nice level of tannins.
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3/2/2017 - Blue Shorts Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured.
Simplistic, but enjoyable nonetheless.
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9/27/2016 - ravbik wrote: 90 Points
Big, hearty red better on second day.
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5/7/2016 - Ed in Montana Likes this wine: 91 Points
A hearty earthy red that went well with grilled skirt steak.
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3/10/2016 - JMFWC Likes this wine: 89 Points
beautiful and juicy at opening with great aromatics. Went very hot in about 3 hours but showing well initially.
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1/17/2016 - bzell Likes this wine: 94 Points
I forgot I had this wine and wow I should have gotten more. Tablas Creek wines never disappointed and this was no exception. Everything about this wine is first class from its beautiful color, long legs, deep notes on the nose, rich multiple tastes on the palate and a long fruity finish. This is an easy wine to match food with.
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12/9/2015 - wilypod Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not overly beefy or scruffy or tannic as I was expecting. This is a suave Tannat, indicative of the heights the Tablas Crew might achieve if they were in Oakville. Smooth with dark fruit, cigar emporium, cherry tobacco, and underneath some minerality. Very long, very BBQ on the back porch elegant.
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8/28/2015 - jawlz wrote: 93 Points
Really nice wine. Opened a bit young, because I needed something that would stand up to a pretty strong garlic-peppercorn sauce. Decanted 2 hours, and this did the trick admirably. Really, really nice, and big and strong to boot.
Color: Deep, dark purple. The same up until the edges, where it (barely) thins out a tiny bit. A few thin legs.
Nose: Chalk, baking chocolate, figs. Everything goes well together. Maybe a hint of ginger. A bit of sarsaparilla on the back-end.
Taste: Mmmm... nice. Initially some tart boysenberry pie, hints of granny-smith apples, Maybe some blackberries? Rounds out into ripe plums (without the sugar), juniper berries, a hint of cacao. Something a bit gamey and smokey is going on too. Nice tannins and mineral backbone; good structure. NICE long tannic finish (30 seconds+) of limestone powder, atomized welch's grape juice, and mesquite.
Really really nice wine. The structure is there to age this guy many, many more years, but with proper decanting it's drinking nicely now. 93+.
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8/5/2015 - sholbert wrote: 94 Points
Marvelous stuff. It needs some time to open, but man, this is a steak wine. Rich fruit, smooth tannins... just wonderful.
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5/7/2015 - cdebeau Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful deep color. Smooth finish.
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3/26/2015 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 89 Points
Black purple with a red-violet rim. Very dark, pretty much opaque. Good legs. Black-purple fruit in the nose. Dark, dark chocolate. Pretty sleek, polished mouthfeel. Big, bold, tannic. Tightly wound, could use a lot of time. As it is, this was opened last night. 5-11-15-8: 89/100.
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3/23/2015 - mahem Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bottle test, picked up month prior from winery. Opened after having a smoked bbq dinner. Bold fruit, lots of tannin. after 2 hours wine was still tight. This wine will develop with age.
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1/26/2015 - Stockhausen wrote:
as of Jan 2015, Tablas vintage chart - hold, too young. Though it tasted lovely to us at the winery....
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