“…this fine young wine is still mostly about promise,
but the promise is very good indeed.”
Time Sensitive: This is a great buy for $25, but it won’t last long. There were a couple of cases available in the bins at our friendly neighborhood Madison Heights Costco just two days ago. Today, there is half that or less. It may be gone by this weekend, so, quick like a bunny, get some if you can.
Click image to enlarge.
We don’t see nearly as much Tablas Creek in our neck of the woods as we used to. In fact, the bottle reviewed here is the only one I have been able to find around here in at least a year. I had to pull two bottles from our cellar the last time I wanted something from this producer, and I was reminded yet again why TC has been on our short list of favorite California wineries for almost two decades.
This particular bottling has been hanging around our friendly local Costco since at least last fall. We even ponied up the $49.99 to try one sometime around Thanksgiving, when we found it to be good, but in need of more time in the cellar. A few days ago, I noticed that it is now priced at $24.99 at the same Costco, a pretty obvious indication that the wine has not been selling, and that the distributor wants to discount it and move it quickly. At that price, I felt obliged to pick up another bottle and give it further consideration.
2019 Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Tablas Adelaida District Paso Robles, 39% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 21% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 14% alc., $24.99: Big, brash and primary, this fine young wine is still mostly about promise, but the promise is very good indeed. The ample structure gives it a bit of a bite at first, but that gradually smoothes out with air. It’s earthy in a way I like, and offers a flavor profile that opens to include red and black plums, cherries and some subtle undertones of saddle leather. Full bodied and well built for 5, 10 or even more years in the cellar, these have a great track record for aging, and with the price reduced by half, this is a real no-brainer. If there’s still any left when I get back there, I’m going to grab a few to lay down and forget about for at least a few years. It’s that good, and patience will be rewarded. Find this wine
So why the dearth in Tablas Creek inventory hereabouts? I can make a couple of informed guesses in that regard. First, the wines are not inexpensive. The “entry level” Patelin de Tablas Rouge sells for $28 at the winery, although it can be had for less from some online sources. The flagship bottling noted here sells for $65 at the winery, so it’s not exactly an “everyday wine.” Because these tend to be a bit on the pricey side, they require some attention to sell. Back in my retail days, more than a decade ago, I had good success with Tablas Creek, because I could put them in peoples’ hands, and often, they’d return for another bottle or three. Furthermore, there was plenty of Tablas Creek available in the Detroit market at that time, because the regional Vineyards Brand sales manager promoted the wines aggressively. Sadly, that person’s successors don’t seem to have the same enthusiasm for Tablas Creek wines, which is a real shame.
Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo
