Current Vintages
Esprit de Beaucastel 2005
Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2006
Rosé 2007
Côtes de Tablas 2005
Côtes de Tablas Blanc 2006
Roussanne 2006
Grenache Blanc 2006
Mourvedre 2005
Syrah 2005
Panoplie 2005*
Counoise 2005*
Viognier 2006*
Vermentino 2006*
Picpoul Blanc 2005*
Antithesis Chardonnay 2006*
Tannat 2004*
Vin de Paille 2005*
Vin de Paille "Quintessence" 2004*
Vin de Paille "Sacrerouge" 2005*
Recent Vintages
Esprit de Beaucastel 2004
Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2005
Rosé 2006
Côtes de Tablas 2004
Côtes de Tablas Blanc 2005
Panoplie 2004*
Roussanne 2005
Grenache Blanc 2005
Mourvedre 2004
Syrah 2004
Esprit de Beaucastel 2003
Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2004
Antithesis Chardonnay 2005*
Vermentino 2005*
Rosé 2005
Grenache Blanc 2004
Roussanne 2004
Viognier 2004*
Vin de Paille 2004*
Vin de Paille "Sacrerouge" 2003*
Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2003
Rosé 2004
Côtes de Tablas 2003
Côtes de Tablas Blanc 2004
Roussanne 2003
Mourvedre 2003
Syrah 2003
Panoplie 2003*
Tannat 2003*
Vermentino 2003*
Picpoul Blanc 2003*
Tannat 2002*
Vin de Paille 2003*
Vin de Paille "Quintessence" 2003*
Glenrose Vineyard 2002*
Esprit de Beaucastel 2002
Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2002
Rosé 2003
Côtes de Tablas 2002
Côtes de Tablas Blanc 2003
Panoplie 2002*
Roussanne 2002
Côtes de Tablas 2001
Rosé 2002
Côtes de Tablas Blanc 2002
Esprit de Beaucastel 2000
Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2001
Côtes de Tablas 2000
Rosé 2001
Panoplie 2000*
Reserve Cuvée 1999
Petite Cuvée 1999*
Clos Blanc 2000
Antithesis 2000*
Rosé 2000
Rouge 1998
Blanc 1999
Rosé 1999
Rouge 1997
Blanc 1998
* Available Winery/Internet Only
Wine Enthusiast names '03 Esprit Blanc #11 Wine of 2005!
The review: "a stunning white Rhone blend of enormous complexity and charm. Fills the mouth with butterscotch, creme brulee, pineapple, mineral, vanilla, impossibly ripe white peach and hazelnut flavors and, as sweet as that sounds, the wine is dry and crisp. 95 points."

This wine is available in distribution nationally, or through our online wine shop

This wine was released first to our VINsider club members, who received a bottle in their Fall 2004 club shipment. We have more information on the VINsider wine club.
   


TECHNICAL NOTES
68% Roussanne
27% Grenache Blanc
5% Viognier
14.5% alcohol by volume
1350 cases produced

FOOD PAIRINGS
Cooked shellfish (lobster, softshell crab, shrimp)
Roasted or grilled vegetables (eggplant, asparagus, peppers)
Foods cooked with garlic and olive oil
Rich fish dishes (i.e., salmon, swordfish)
Asian stir fry

RECIPE SUGGESTIONS
Ginger/Scallion Chicken
Grilled Scallops

Printable Brand Sheet

Printable Restaurant/Shelf Talker

Reviews

Wine Enthusiast ("Top 100 of 2005")
Stephen Tanzer (July 2005)
Wine Advocate (June 2005)
Restaurant Wine (Jun. 2005)
Wine Enthusiast (Jan. 2005)
Stephen Tanzer (Jan. 2005)
Wine Advocate (Aug. 2004)


How is it drinking?
Vintage Chart

The Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2003 is a blend of three estate-grown varietals, propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate.

The 2003 vintage was tremendous: warm and sunny, with cool nights that prolonged the hangtime of the grapes and led to wines with excellent acidity. A relatively early flowering, combined with a warm but not overly hot summer produced unusually long hangtime, and grapes with concentrated flavors and a distinct minerality. The extended harvest meant that we harvested varietals multiple times: Grenache Blanc between September 16th and October 22nd, Viognier between September 18th and October 6th, and Roussanne (usually the latest-ripening white varietal) between September 24th and October 25th.

The fruit was whole cluster pressed, and fermented with native yeasts. The Roussanne was fermented half in stainless steel fermenters and half in small oak "pieces", while the other varietals were fermented 100% in stainless steel. All the wines went through malolactic fermentation. The varietals were blended in late April, after which the wines were racked, blended, cold stabilized, and bottled in June 2004.

The 2003 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc is a tremendous expression of the outstanding 2003 vintage. Rich aromas of honeysuckle, lemon drop, meringue and spice are followed by intense flavors of honey, caramel apple and lemon, and a long mineral finish. Best served slightly chilled, but not ice cold.