2006 Rosé

2006 Rosé: 90 points from the Wine Enthusiast

We’re thrilled that the 2006 Rosé recently received a glowing review from Steve Heimoff of the Wine Enthusiast, who gave the wine 90 points and described it as:

“Just delicious, a wine you can’t stop drinking. The cherry-berry and spice flavors are full-bodied and dry, while the mouthfeel is just so pretty, all silk and crisp acidity.”

The Rosé is available from the Tablas Creek online wine shop, and is also in limited national distribution.

Production Notes

The Tablas Creek Vineyard Rosé 2006 is a blend of three estate-grown varietals, propagated from budwood cuttings from the Château de Beaucastel estate. The blend is traditional of the southern Rhône, though the blend of grapes is predominantly Mourvèdre, and therefore more like the solid, dry rosés of Bandol than the lighter Grenache-based Tavel.

Each year, we take the grapes for our Rosé from the oldest section of French-source vines at Tablas Creek. When we first received our vines from France, we had just enough to plant a few rows of each varietal on a hill overlooking our vine nursery. Over the next few years, we used cuttings from these plants to plant the rest of our 120-acre vineyard.

These few rows of high-quality vines ripen later than the rest of the vineyard, so we harvest the Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Counoise together and co-ferment them (on their skins) in a single stainless steel fermenter. After 72 hours, we draw about 800 gallons of juice off the blend, and ferment it dry away from the skins. These lots are then supplemented with saignées (bleedings) from other Mourvèdre lots in the cellar.

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

Tasting Notes

The 2006 Rosé is rich, ripe, and full of spice and fruit. It has aromatics of sage and juniper, as well as white plum and watermelon, flavors of ripe strawberries, fresh acidity and a lingering finish. Pair it with Mediterranean cuisine, Spanish tapas, preparations with garlic and olive oil... or just enjoy it outside on a sunny day.

Reviews

[...more recent Tablas Creek press]

Recipe Suggestions

[...more recipes]

Food Pairings

  • Salmon
  • Sushi
  • Anchovies
  • Sausages
  • Roast chicken
  • Mediterranean tapas
Rose

Not Available for Purchase

Blend

  • 60% Mourvèdre
  • 28% Grenache
  • 12% Counoise

Technical Notes

  • 14.8% alcohol by volume
  • 850 cases produced

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