Tablas Creek 2018 Cotes de Tablas

We are delighted to bring you the 2018 Côtes de Tablas from Tablas Creek Vineyard, located in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, California. This wine is a bold yet balanced example of the estate’s Rhône‑style program. The blend comprises 45% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 12% Counoise and 10% Mourvèdre, grown on certified organic and biodynamic estate vineyards.

The 2018 vintage followed a late rainfall which delayed bud‑break, then a generally cooler season with a six‑week July‑August heat spike. Thanks to moderation before harvest, the fruit achieved intensity, acidity and structure. After separate native‑yeast fermentations in stainless steel and upright wooden tanks, the wine was blended in June 2019, matured for one year in 1 200‑gallon French oak foudres and bottled in February 2020. The wine is unfined and unfiltered.

This Côtes de Tablas offers aromas of soy‑marinade, black pepper, fig and dark berry, followed by a palate of cherry‑kirsch, bittersweet chocolate, peppery garrigue and chalky tannins framed by lively acidity. It’s delicious now but shows the structure to age gracefully. According to critics, the 2018 earned 93 points from Vinous, 92 points from Wine Advocate, 94 points & Editors’ Choice from Wine Enthusiast.

Pair this wine with grilled steaks, rich beef stews, pasta with meat sauce or spicy sausage. Serve at around 16‑18 °C, and decant for 30 minutes if drinking in its first few years.