TN: 2006 Tablas Creek - Esprit de Beaucastel (Rouge)

WINE TALK
1

3/1/2009
– decanted for about an hour before tasting –
– tasted non-blind over 5 hours –
– 45% Mourvedre, 28% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 5% Counoise –

NOSE: initially showed ripe red fruits (raspberries and sour cherries) along with a hint of garrigue and some limestone minerality; a spicy wood note emerges with time in the glass; the bouquet did tighten-up a few hours into the decant

BODY: clear; dark ruby color of medium-great depth; medium-full bodied.

TASTE: yummmm!! another successful vintage for this wine: a very smooth, easy-drinking CA Rhone blend showing loganberry and some Italian herbs on the full & seamless palate; the chalky minerality takes a back seat to the fruits, but is certainly there; hints of cedar and cigar wrapper come through on the long finish (50 - 60 sec.); tightened-up after a few hours in the decanter; although the tannins were moderately drying on the finish, this wine is extremely well-balanced and I believe it has the structure to withstand mid-term aging. Hold.

B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 8 = 91 [cheers.gif]

2

Thanks for the note. I found a rockin’ good deal on the '05 that has been really stellar.

3

i have had the Blanc a time or two and have not been impressed.

4

I love the '05! Some of the '05 bottles I’ve had could easily be mistaken for CdP … others have tasted very similar to the '06 I had last night. A consistently great wine.

5

The Blanc has been hit and miss for me … the couple times I’ve had one with a few years of age on it have convinced me it gets better with age. Still not sure it’s worth the price tag, though.

6

They have had this sitting at my local costco for quite a while now and I have always been tempted to try one out. Perhaps now I’ll pull the trigger on it.

7

[shock.gif] With you being a huge Rhone fan I am very surprised you have yet to try this. I can only imagine how good of a price Costco has got it marked at. I bought mine from K&L for $38 … that was before I found out L.A. Wine Co. has it for $33. At $33, this is a back-the-truck-up wine if you like CARhones.

8

It was one of those mental blockages that needs to be cleared. The price at costco here is $32.

9

The '05 is Bretty. The '06 is not (thanks to their new steam generator :slight_smile: ). If that is the flavor profile you like, you might be disappointed with the '06.

10

I’ve had a couple “clean” bottles of their '05 … although I do admit to preferring the couple '05’s I’ve had that had some brett in 'em. [foilhat.gif]