Tablas Creek 2018 Cotes de Tablas

The 2018 Côtes de Tablas from Tablas Creek Vineyard is a bold yet balanced Rhône-style blend that reflects the limestone-rich soils of the Adelaida District in Paso Robles. This vintage brings together 45% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 12% Counoise, and 10% Mourvèdre—all estate-grown on certified organic and biodynamic vineyards. The result is a wine with depth, freshness, and a distinctly Mediterranean personality.

The 2018 growing season started with generous late-season rainfall. Budbreak arrived late, and the cooler overall conditions were interrupted by a six-week heat wave in July and August. However, moderate temperatures returned in time for harvest. As a result, the fruit ripened slowly and evenly, developing excellent balance between structure and acidity.

Each varietal fermented separately with native yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and upright wooden fermenters. The wine was blended in June 2019, aged in 1,200-gallon French oak foudres for 12 months, and bottled unfined and unfiltered in February 2020.

In the glass, the wine offers savory and spice-driven aromatics: soy marinade, black pepper, fig, and dark berry. On the palate, you’ll find flavors of cherry-kirsch, bittersweet chocolate, peppery garrigue, and dusty minerality. The structure is firm, but the tannins are well integrated and chalky. Acidity adds lift, making this a versatile red that drinks beautifully now but will improve over the next decade.

This blend reflects Tablas Creek’s commitment to sustainable, terroir-driven winemaking. With its freshness, depth, and fine balance, the 2018 Côtes de Tablas shows why Tablas Creek continues to lead the way in American Rhône-style wines.