This is very good Grenache, the best I've had from Tablas Creek or anyone else in California in years. The color is deep, translucent ruby, flavors of sweet strawberry, cherry, light kirsch. With ripe but not heavy flavors, this beautiful fruit outclasses the cracked peppercorn and thin edgy strawberry fruit of so much modern varietal Grenache, as well as those overripe, oaky, syrupy Spanish Garnachas.
My ideal Grenache still comes from the Rhone, from old vines, often exhibiting a touch of new French oak or maybe a dollop of Mourvèdre or Carignan or both to round it out. One winemaker in the Rhone (Travaillan) formerly cellared his Grenache for 12 months in used Pinot Noir cooperage from Beaune to wonderful effect.
That said, this is really good, but I will wait a year before opening another.
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Tasted from 187ml bottle, 14.5% abv, full body, light red color, lots going on with fruit and acid, TC folks feel this is their finest Grenache ever, not my favorite grape, drank with cheese and prosciutto, have a full bottle, a bit disjointed and I confuse heat with spiciness, will be interested to see how the full bottle drinks.
3/24/2024 - yatchisin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lush but not plush, firm acidity holds bright berry fruit, anise, pepper, sage. Long finish.
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12/2/2023 - grafstrb wrote:
Red-fruited and approachable.
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11/16/2023 - wilypod Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is very good Grenache, the best I've had from Tablas Creek or anyone else in California in years. The color is deep, translucent ruby, flavors of sweet strawberry, cherry, light kirsch. With ripe but not heavy flavors, this beautiful fruit outclasses the cracked peppercorn and thin edgy strawberry fruit of so much modern varietal Grenache, as well as those overripe, oaky, syrupy Spanish Garnachas.
My ideal Grenache still comes from the Rhone, from old vines, often exhibiting a touch of new French oak or maybe a dollop of Mourvèdre or Carignan or both to round it out. One winemaker in the Rhone (Travaillan) formerly cellared his Grenache for 12 months in used Pinot Noir cooperage from Beaune to wonderful effect.
That said, this is really good, but I will wait a year before opening another.
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10/27/2023 - EM_MB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light and delicious but not overly complex.
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10/25/2023 - bonedocnine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. In many ways like a pinot. just lovely.
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10/13/2023 - mwneil wrote: 89 Points
Tasted from 187ml bottle, 14.5% abv, full body, light red color, lots going on with fruit and acid, TC folks feel this is their finest Grenache ever, not my favorite grape, drank with cheese and prosciutto, have a full bottle, a bit disjointed and I confuse heat with spiciness, will be interested to see how the full bottle drinks.
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