2003 Côtes de Tablas Blanc

Production Notes

The Tablas Creek Vineyard Côtes de Tablas Blanc is a blend of four estate-grown white Rhône varietals: Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, and Roussanne. The wine, like most wines of the Southern Rhône, is a blend of varietals, featuring the aromatics and fruit of the Viognier, the flavors and clean minerality of the Marsanne and Roussanne, and the crisp acids and rich mouthfeel of the Grenache Blanc.

The 2003 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is Tablas Creek’s second national release of its Viognier-based white blend, made in a rich and aromatic style, yet with a clean minerality in the mouth and a very long finish. Like our Côtes de Tablas red, this wine is designed to be ready to drink young: at its peak from the moment of its release.

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, Marsanne between September 18th and October 8th, and Roussanne (usually the latest-ripening white varietal) between September 24th and October 25th.

All varietals for the Côtes de Tablas Blanc were whole cluster pressed, and fermented in stainless steel to emphasize the clean crisp flavors and preserve the aromatics. Only native yeasts were used. After fermentation, the wines were racked and blended, and bottled in May 2004. The wine underwent only a light cold stabilization before bottling.

Tasting Notes

The 2003 Côtes de Tablas Blanc is an excellent expression of the terrific 2003 vintage, featuring the aromatics of Viognier, the richness of Marsanne, and the crisp acids of Grenache Blanc. Spicy aromas of herbs, stone fruits and minerals are followed in the mouth by apricot flavors, rich texture and a clean, peachy finish.

Reviews

• Boston Globe (Nov 2005)
• Stephen Tanzer (July 2005)
• Restaurant Wine (Jun. 2005)
• Wine & Spirits (Jun 2005)
• Wine Enthusiast (Jan 2005)
• Wine Advocate (Aug. 2004)

[...more recent Tablas Creek press]

Recipe Suggestions

• Grilled Scallops

[...more recipes]

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

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