2007 Grenache

Production Notes

The 2007 Tablas Creek Vineyard Grenache is Tablas Creek’s second varietal bottling of the most widely planted grape in the 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 lushness of the 2007 vintage.

We use most of our Grenache in our Esprit de Beaucastel and Cotes 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.

Our Grenache grapes were grown on our 120-acre certified organic estate vineyard.

The 2007 vintage was the best vintage we've yet seen at Tablas Creek. Yields were very low (down between 15% and 30%, depending on variety) due to a cold and very dry winter, which produced small berries and small clusters. A moderate summer without any significant heat spikes followed, allowing gradual ripening, and producing red wines with tremendous intensity, excellent freshness and a lushness to the fruit which cloaks tannins that should allow the wines to age gracefully. The Grenache was harvested between September 25th and October 22nd.

The Grenache grapes were destemmed and then fermented using native yeasts in closed stainless steel tanks. After three weeks, they were pressed and moved to 1200-gallon foudres to complete their fermentation. The Grenache lots were blended in June of 2008, when we added 10% Syrah to give a touch of black fruit and mineral to the wine. It was aged for an additional year in a 1200-gallon foudres and bottled in April 2009. The wine underwent only a light filtration before bottling, and should be expected to throw a sediment over time.

Tasting Notes

The 2007 Grenache displays a deep, rich nose of cherry, plum, licorice and black tea, medium to full body, and a vibrant, spicy finish that turns a touch darker and firmer at the end. We recommend cellaring the wine for 6-12 months and enjoying it over the next decade.

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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

  • 90% Grenache
  • 10% Syrah

Technical Notes

  • 15.3% Alcohol by Volume
  • 750 Cases Produced

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