VINsider News & Updates

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Spring 2012 Shipment

We are proud to announce the spring 2012 VINsider club shipment, highlighted by the 2009 Panoplie, the 2010 Cotes de Tablas, and the 2010 Antithesis Chardonnay. The shipment includes:

  • 1 bottle of Panoplie 2009 (Our elite red wine from our lowest-yielding vintage ever, available only to VINsiders. 95 Tanzer's IWC; 94-96 Rhone Report)
  • 1 bottle of Grenache 2009 (Powerful Grenache fruit balanced by bright acids and chalky tannins; 90+ Wine Advocate, 91 Tanzer's IWC)
  • 1 bottle of Cotes de Tablas 2010 (The follow-up to our Wine Spectator "Top 100" 2009, showing the bright spiciness of Grenache balanced by the cool restraint of the 2010 vintage.)
  • 1 bottle of Antithesis 2010 (Crisp, minerally Chardonnay from an exceptionally cool vintage; 90-92 Wine Advocate; 90 Tanzer's IWC)
  • 1 bottle of Grenache Blanc 2010 (A varietal bottling of the zesty white Rhone grape that we introduced to California; 91 Tanzer's IWC)
  • 1 bottle of Cotes de Tablas Blanc 2010 (Our showcase for Viognier, balanced by Grenache Blanc's acids and mineral; 90 Wine Advocate; 90 Tanzer's IWC; 92 James Suckling)
  • Read complete tasting notes on the Tablas Creek blog.

The spring 2012 shipment shipped from the winery Tuesday, March 20th. Will-call customers are now able to pick up their shipments at the winery. If you have received a message from us that you need to update you information, you can update your membership information online.  If you have any questions about your shipment or your membership please contact our wine club team at 805.237.1231 x39 or vinsider@tablascreek.com.

The shipment’s cost of $203.20, plus applicable shipping and taxes, reflects as always a 20% VINsider discount off the retail prices of the wines in the shipment. 

Reorders on the shipment wines are now available.  We have only very small quantities of several of these wines, so reorder quantities are limited and we suggest you act promptly.

Spring 2012 VINsider Shipment Tasting Party Sunday, April 1st

One benefit of the VINsider Wine Club is the opportunity, after each semi-annual shipment, to taste the wines that the shipment contains, learn what new projects we've been working on, and spend some unhurried time with the Tablas Creek winemakers and management. On Sunday, April 1st we'll be closing the tasting room to the public and dedicating it to our wine club members. VINsiders will reserve one of four visit time slots (10:30am, 12noon, 1:30pm, or 3pm) and we'll take each group through the results of the 2011 harvest, our new Biodynamic efforts including our herd of grazing animals, and a tasting of the wines in the spring VINsider shipment, including the remarkable 2009 Panoplie.  We will serve a small dish to pair with the whites and another with the reds.

Attendees also receive a day-of-the-event only extra 5% discount on the wines in the shipment.  This tasting is open to VINsiders only (free) and their invited guests ($15/person). Contact us at 805.237.1231 x34 or events@tablascreek.com for reservations or more information.  Other upcoming events »

VINsider Wine Club Collector’s Edition accepting waiting list registrations for 2012

Collector’s Edition members have exclusive access to library vintages of Esprit de Beaucastel wines that we have aged in ideal conditions in our own cellars since the 2003 vintage. Members also receive an increased allocation of our newest Esprit de Beaucastel wines. Collector's Edition details »

The Collector’s Edition is full. VINsiders interested in the Collector’s Edition for 2012 should upgrade their membership. We plan to increase membership slightly before this fall's Collector’s Edition shipment, and members will be added to the Collector's Edition in the order in which their registrations are received.

En Primeur Offering on 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel and 2010 Panoplie

Offering wine en primeur is a time-honored French tradition most often associated with first-growth Bordeaux estates. In outstanding vintages, valued customers are offered the opportunity to secure a limited quantity of sought-after wines at a futures-only 30% discount in advance of bottling and subsequent general release. On December 3rd, VINsiders were invited to join Tablas Creek's winemakers at one of two sessions (10:30am or 1:00pm) to taste the 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel and 2010 Panoplie, to discuss the vintage, and to enjoy a seasonal dish created to pair with the wines. The $30 cost to attend the event was refundable on any en primeur purchase.

Whether or not they joined us on December 3rd, all VINsiders were eligible to order futures. The deadline to order futures en primeur was December 5th, 2011.

Residents of Maryland, Hawaii and Maine Eligible for VINsider membership; New Jersey Next

We’re thrilled that Maryland, Hawaii and Maine have permitted the direct shipment of wine. Residents are now eligible to order wine or sign up for VINsider Wine Club membership. New Jersey, which passed a direct shipping bill in January 2012, expects to have the licenses and other paperwork ready for us by early summer.  Finally, other states, including Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, are debating shipping legislation. We encourage you to get involved. Learn more on our direct shipping news page.

Other Wine Club-Related Information:

Upcoming Events

Outstanding in the Field (June 7) and Hearst Castle (July 13) Dinners

We are honored to be participating in two local dinners this summer, on June 7th at Rinconada Dairy with Outstanding in the Field and on July 13th at Hearst Castle with Festival Mozaic. Join us at these unforgettable (though wholly different) venues. Details & More Events »

Tablas Creek News

Featured Wine for May: 2010 Grenache Blanc

Each month, we choose a wine to feature based on the season and the wine's own evolution. For May, we've chosen the expressive, mineral-laced 2010 Grenache Blanc. During the feature, this wine (normally $27) is available at $24.60, and just $18.90 for VINsiders. Details »

On the Blog: Celebrating May 15th, the unofficial end to frost season

May 16, 2012

I've delayed writing this post so as not to jinx us, but in mid-May I think that I can do so safely. So, here goes. We seem to have made it through spring without any damage from frost. What does this mean? Nothing but good »