2021 Paso Robles Roussanne, Tablas Creek

• Style: Textured, perfumed white
• Taste: Pear skin, brioche, pineapple, honeycomb with bright acidity
• Food: Roasted poultry, risotto, smoked fish, pâté, ham
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, aperitivo
• Serve: 13% ABV, cool temperature

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This is a serious white wine that rewards attention. Opening with perfumed intensity — ripe pear skin, brioche and honey — it expands on the palate into something broader and more textured, with pineapple and tropical mango weaving through a honeycomb sweetness. What lifts it is the acidity: 2021 was a cool, dry vintage that yielded smaller bunches and concentrated fruit, giving the wine a sharp backbone that keeps it fresh and layered through a lasting finish. At 13% alcohol, it sits in that perfect balance of ripe fruit and restraint — exactly what you want from a Roussanne grown in cool western Paso Robles.

The Winery — Tablas Creek

Founded in 1987 by two pioneering families — the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and the Haas family of Vineyard Brands — Tablas Creek recognised that California's Mediterranean climate could nurture Rhône varieties as authentically as France itself. The vineyard sits twelve miles from the ocean at 450 metres altitude on shallow, limestone-rich soils echoing Beaucastel's own terroir. Cuttings were imported directly from France and propagated on-site in their own nursery. Certified organic since 2003 and biodynamic since 2017, the estate became the first winery in the United States to achieve Regenerative Organic Certification in 2020. The 2021 was hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts in neutral oak, then aged partly in French barriques — a marriage of old-world discipline and new-world ripeness.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Remarkably versatile, this wine pairs beautifully with roasted poultry, pâté, risotto and smoked fish. The weight and honeycomb richness also stand up to ham or pork, with herbal undertones characteristic of the variety giving it the body to hold its own against savoury dishes. Serve chilled as an aperitivo, or bring it to the table for a date night that deserves something thoughtful and layered. This is a reminder that serious white wine isn't confined to coastal regions — explore our full Paso Robles selection or discover more about the Grenache Blanc & Roussanne category to see how this region is redefining California's white wine story.