Tablas Creek Vineyard's Esprit de Tablas Rouge is the flagship red blend of one of our favorite domestic producers. From Paso Robles, California, inspired by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape tradition, the wine combinines Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah, Counoise, Vaccarese, and Cinsaut, all estate-grown from budwood cuttings from Château de Beaucastel.

This wine presents a deep, inviting nose with aromas of new leather, sweet spice, currants, and dark chocolate. The palate is broad and rich, featuring notes of cocoa and black plum, complemented by a spicy element. The finish is long and savory, with brambly blackberry, black fig, and milk chocolate, supported by chewy tannins that will continue to develop for years.

Crafted from certified organic and biodynamic estate vineyards, the grapes are fermented using native yeasts in a mix of wooden upright fermenters, open-top tanks, and closed stainless steel fermenters. After pressing, the wines undergo malolactic fermentation in barrels. The components are blended and aged in large oak foudres before bottling. This wine is immensely appealing now but also has the structure and intensity to reward time in the cellar, with a recommended drinking window extending over the next 25 years.

Ideal pairings include game, dark fowl like duck, richly flavored stews, lamb, and Asian preparations of red meats such as beef stir-fry.

The Esprit de Tablas Rouge exemplifies Tablas Creek's commitment to regenerative viticulture and traditional Rhône-style winemaking, offering a complex and harmonious expression of their unique terroir.