2017 Tablas Creek Esprit de Tablas

Community Tasting Notes (38) Avg Score: 91.6 points

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  12/8/2023 - BobHatcher wrote: 92 Points

  These guys have it right. A great GSM that is smoooooth yet tasty. Had with ribeye.

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  10/21/2023 - tward Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Excellent. This has really come together since the last bottle just under two years ago. Decanted for a couple of hour and then drank over a few hours with and without food.
  
  It seems that Grenache and Mourvedre are most on display here and a glance at the bottle shows that Syrah and Counoise are only 20% and 5%, respectively. Kirsch, cassis and a touch of cocoa? Christmas fruitcake and baking spices. Plum, dark dried fig. What a beautiful nose. It sounds corny, but I could taste the site and sunshine (which is probably just memory from past tastings at the winery). Slight mint and fennel. Loamy earth.
  
  As you'd expect from Tablas Creek, this is less of a big, brawny style, more elegant. However, what keeps it from being truly Outstanding (94-95) is a real loss of intensity when aerating in your mouth - it even had a soft rainwater fade at times. If that mid-palate fills in more, this will only get better. For now, it's still such a lovely wine.
  
  This was a perfect pairing with a red wine braised beef short rib dish. It's no coincidence similar dishes are often served the Tablas Creek's en primeur events!
  
  14.5% abv. Not even a hint of heat or alcohol volatility.
  
  Aside: Winery notes from last year set the expectation for this to go through a closed phase for a few years beginning within the next year or so - "...drink either between now and 2024 or again starting in 2027..." Of course, YMMV, depending on cellar conditions.

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  9/4/2023 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:

  This has come together more quickly than anticipated. Although the tannins are still a bit too upfront, this is a very elegant offering. Perfect with roasted chicken and wild rice, there’s a cupboard full of herbs in here joined by pomegranate, dark berries and a suggestion of barnyard. Drink now (with decant) through 2033. Worth Seeking Out.

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  8/9/2023 - motuski Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Exceptional fruit quality and balance, with herbs, cherries and gooseberries on the palette. Had alongside its French cousin - a 2016 Ch Beaucastel that had more tannic grip than this one. Have another stashed away in the cellar for another day. Yum!

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  2/5/2023 - Brigstin wrote:

  cool wintergreen mint smoked meat redcurrant mocha, juniper sweet fruit licorice black cherry chocolate chorizo wood smoke roasted meat plum skin crushed rock

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View all 38 Community Tasting Notes

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