Central Coast (CA) cabs. Really??

Bob_Hunnicutt · November 15, 2015, 7:41pm

It’s the next Napa–haven’t you heard? Or maybe that’s China; or was it Columbia Vly?
Plenty of heat in the Paso area for Cab (while still getting cool nights)

larry_schaffer · November 15, 2015, 8:13pm

In Santa Barbara County, the Happy Canyon area, in the eastern part of the Santa Ynez Valley, has already been producing world-class Sauvignon Blancs for quite some time. Watch for the likes of Star lane / Dierberg, Grassini, and others in the area to be releasing some killer reds over the next few years. Will that be as good as other regions in the state? I guess only time will tell, and perhaps an open mind will be needed to assess them objectively.

Dave_McCloskey · November 16, 2015, 10:39pm

P. D e r d e y n:

This seems like as good a place to post this as any. On night 2 of drinking this wine, tasting note is from night 1. Overall impressions: this is absolutely not Napa, it is very classically styled Cabernet that is just entering its drinking window. If you happen to have some of this I encourage you to bust one open to track its progress.

2010 Tablas Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (11/13/2015)
Secondary characteristics are starting to show and this is really interesting. Green Bell Pepper, Cedar, Iron, and a little bit Gamey. There is still rich red fruit underneath and just the slightest hint of sweet tannin left. This should continue to evolve for a couple more years, but I love it now.

Some sort of bloody pulpit?
As most of you likely already know one of Tablas Creek’s stated missions is to grow all 13 of the permissible Chtnf. varieties on their estate vineyard in Paso Robles, most of which did not exist anywhere in the U.S. at the time of their founding. They set out to do this by importing cuttings from their partner winery Cheateau de Beacastel and as a result were the original importers of several new varieties that were not being grown anywhere in the U.S. at the time. Their expertise in getting these new varietals through quarantine lead to their ability to provide the new vines to growers throughout the country who had an interest in these varietals. As a result of this business they were occasionally asked to import another (non rhone) vine type into the country and IIRC this is what resulted in 2 rows of Cabernet Sauvignon being planted on their property. This was strictly used to blend into their Tannat for a number of years, but in 2010 they found it compelling enough to produce a few barrels of 100% CS. It is my understanding that this was a 1 time thing and these vines are all now gone as they have gotten almost all of the 13 Chtnf varietals through quarantine and needed to make room.

I’ve been a Tablas Creek wine member for several years and never seen a 100% Cab offered.