Tablas Creek Vineyard : Esprit de Tablas 2013

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Esprit de Tablas 2013 from Tablas Creek Vineyard

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a distinctive red hue.

Nose

The nose reveals spicy, meaty aromas reminiscent of soppressata, alongside notes of black mulberry, chaparral and dried herbs. With aeration, the bouquet unveils mineral nuances and spice.

Palate

On the palate, the black mulberry profile initially unfolds in a broad, subtle way, followed by finely resolved tannins that reflect beautiful integration. The lingering finish reveals notes of black licorice and herbes de Provence, supported by vibrant acidity that maintains the balance between generous fruit and structural freshness.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled meats, pasta with meat sauce, pork roast or beef stews. It also accompanies, with elegance, stir-fried meat with bold flavors, lamb with Mediterranean herbs, or game.

Serving and cellaring

The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2013 can be enjoyed now.

A Paso Robles red wine with Rhône influences

The estate

Founded in 1989 by the Perrin and Haas families, Tablas Creek Vineyard spans 135 acres in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, California. A pioneer of the California Rhône movement, this estate became in 2020 the world’s first vineyard certified Regenerative Organic, achieving Gold level in 2022. Now led by Jason Haas, the estate remains a family business equally owned by the two founding families. Tablas Creek stands out for its commitment to organic and biodynamic farming, as well as for the direct import of Châteauneuf-du-Pape clones from Château de Beaucastel.

The vineyard

This Esprit de Tablas 2013 comes from a selection of fruit sourced from eight to twelve vineyards spread across different areas of Paso Robles. The grapes are grown across three distinct limestone regions: the warmer, higher-elevation Adelaida Hills; the ocean-influenced, cooler Templeton Gap; and the moderately rolling El Pomar. This diversity of terroirs brings mineral-driven fruit with excellent acidity, complemented by grapes from the Estrella District, whose sandy-loam soils produce juicy, generous fruit.

The vintage

The year 2013 stands out as a remarkable vintage for Tablas Creek, marking the earliest harvest in the estate’s history. A second consecutive year of drought limited yields, while an exceptionally warm and steady summer—without heat spikes or significant cool spells—encouraged ideal ripening. These conditions produced a vintage of excellent concentration, with refined tannins and satisfying freshness. Harvest took place from August 27 for Syrah through October 7 for Counoise.

Winemaking and aging

The Tablas Creek Vineyard 2013 was crafted with a terroir-respectful approach, using only indigenous wild yeasts for fermentation. The grapes were destemmed, then fermented in a mix of open and closed stainless-steel tanks as well as 1,500-gallon oak tanks. After fermentation and pressing, the separately vinified lots were blended and aged in a mix of stainless steel and 1,200-gallon French oak foudres, allowing the fruit and terroir to take precedence over the influence of oak. Bottling took place in July 2014.

Grape varieties

Syrah (45%), Grenache (29%), Mourvèdre (22%), Counoise (4%)