2008 Grenache

Production Notes

The 2008 Tablas Creek Vineyard Grenache is Tablas Creek’s third varietal bottling of the signature grape of the southern Rhone Valley. The wine shows the bright fruit and spice, medium body and tangy acidity of the Grenache Noir grape, as well as the characteristic elegance of the 2008 vintage.

We use most of our Grenache in our Esprit de Beaucastel and Côtes de Tablas blends each year. However, we feel that this is a grape whose bright fruit, spice and acidity lends itself well to bottling as a single-varietal wine as well. In addition, Grenache seems to improve more dramatically with vine age than any other grape we grow, and we have been increasingly impressed with its performance in Paso Robles the last few years. We first produced a single-varietal Grenache bottling in 2006.

The grapes for our 2008 Grenache were grown on our 120-acre certified organic estate vineyard.

The 2008 vintage was our second consecutive drought vintage, with low yields, cool-climate characteristics, and a persistent elegance across both whites and reds. A late spring and moderate summer combined with beautiful harvest weather to produce gradual ripening and red wines that were unusually fresh and approachable despite appealing lushness. Grenache was harvested between September 23th and October 24th.

The Grenache grapes were destemmed and then fermented using native yeasts in closed stainless steel tanks. After two weeks, they were pressed and moved to neutral barrels to complete their fermentation. The Grenache lots were blended in June of 2009, aged for an additional year in a 1200-gallon foudre and bottled in May 2010.

Tasting Notes

The 2008 Grenache is bright medium red, with a classic Grenache nose of currant, red plum, and cherry. Fresh and pure on the palate with flavors of red fruit and milk chocolate, nice chalky tannins that provide firmness and a touch of saline minerality on the long finish. Drink now or over the next six to eight years.

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Recipe Suggestions

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Food Pairings

  • Grilled steaks
  • Pastas with meat sauces
  • Rich beef stews
  • Spicy sausages
Grenache

Not Available for Purchase

Blend

  • 100% Grenache

Technical Notes

  • 15.5% Alcohol by Volume
  • 480 Cases Produced

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