Tablas Creek was founded by the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and their importer, Robert Haas. The goal was to produce California's best examples of southern Rhône varietals and Chateauneuf-du-Pape style blends. The partners chose a 120-acre property in the hills of westside Paso Robles for its similarities to Chateauneuf-du-Pape: limestone soils, favorable climate, and rugged terrain. Tablas Creek emphasizes dry farming (no watering) to seek maximum expression from their grapes, and they farm organically. Their signature white is named Esprit de Tablas, and is modeled after the Beaucastel wines from the Rhone Valley.
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 95+ POINTS - "As I wrote last year, the 2023 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is poised and composed on the nose, straddling orchard fruit, citrus rind and white flower aromas with a rich, deep nuttiness at the core. The palate is punchy, powerful and round in texture with a surprising elegance and understated quality. The finish is seamless and direct, with a pleasing phenolic grip and lifted acidity surrounding a core of rich stone fruit flavors. This is a classic version of this wine, with perhaps a bit more energy overall, due to both the cool vintage and the lower percentage of Roussanne that has characterized the last few versions of this blend. This 2023 is composed of 48% Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc, 13% Picpoul Blanc, 10% Bourboulenc, 5% Picardan and 2% Clairette Blanche."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95 POINTS - "The 2023 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is an understated beauty. Wildflowers and lemon oil blend with ginger-tinged yellow apples. It flows across the palate with a sense of opulence, reeled in by tantalizing acidity and minerals as ripe orchard fruits settle. It's youthfully tense and inward yet complex, with a gentle tannic tug and hints of spice adding lovely punctuation. This is a gorgeous and mineral-driven Esprit de Tablas Blanc in the making. Tasted from barrel."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 95+ POINTS - "As I wrote last year, the 2023 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is poised and composed on the nose, straddling orchard fruit, citrus rind and white flower aromas with a rich, deep nuttiness at the core. The palate is punchy, powerful and round in texture with a surprising elegance and understated quality. The finish is seamless and direct, with a pleasing phenolic grip and lifted acidity surrounding a core of rich stone fruit flavors. This is a classic version of this wine, with perhaps a bit more energy overall, due to both the cool vintage and the lower percentage of Roussanne that has characterized the last few versions of this blend. This 2023 is composed of 48% Roussanne, 22% Grenache Blanc, 13% Picpoul Blanc, 10% Bourboulenc, 5% Picardan and 2% Clairette Blanche."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 95 POINTS - "The 2023 Esprit de Tablas Blanc is an understated beauty. Wildflowers and lemon oil blend with ginger-tinged yellow apples. It flows across the palate with a sense of opulence, reeled in by tantalizing acidity and minerals as ripe orchard fruits settle. It's youthfully tense and inward yet complex, with a gentle tannic tug and hints of spice adding lovely punctuation. This is a gorgeous and mineral-driven Esprit de Tablas Blanc in the making. Tasted from barrel."
