2020 Esprit de Tablas Rouge, Tablas Creek

• Style: Southern Rhône Red Blend
• Taste: Dark cherry, chocolate, violet with velvety tannins
• Food: Roasted meats, game, grilled dishes, beef
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, cellar worthy
• Serve: 16–18°C, decant 30 mins

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Dark cherry, violet and cassis open into layers of chocolate and liquorice, anchored by juicy red-fruit character from Grenache. Savoury, structured and poised, the tannins grip without heaviness—a hallmark of careful blending. At 13.5% alcohol, the wine shows no heat; instead, cool Pacific nights and shallow limestone soils deliver the freshness that suggests ten years of rewarding cellaring ahead.

The Winery — Tablas Creek

Founded in 1987 by the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and the Haas family, Tablas Creek was built on the conviction that Paso Robles' Mediterranean climate could express southern Rhône varieties with authenticity. The estate imported cuttings from Beaucastel and established its own nursery to propagate them across 50 hillside hectares. Certified organic since 2003 and biodynamic since 2017, Tablas Creek achieved Regenerative Organic Certification in 2020—the first winery to do so. The 2020 Esprit de Tablas, fermented in open-top tanks with native yeasts and aged in French oak foudres, reflects this commitment to pure, integrated expression despite a challenging vintage.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is a wine that demands roasted meat on the plate: lamb, braised beef, duck, game and the kind of charcuterie that doesn't apologise. The structure and saline, herbal spine—led by 40% Mourvèdre—stand up to bold, rich flavours without flinching. Serve at 16–18°C, decanted for 30 minutes to let the tannins breathe. If you're drawn to Rhône reds from the United States that honour their French cousins without imitation, this is a natural home. Explore the rest of our curated Paso Robles selection, or discover other Mourvèdre wines in our range.