Darren Delmore was in town for SFW&CF so we had hime over on Susan's portal to taste some TCV wines. Laura of Pig+Fig joined us:
1. TablasCreekVnyd Picardin Estate/AdelaidaDist/PasoRobles (12.5%) 2017: Light gold color; quite fragrant floral/carnations/appley/bit spicy slight chalky very attractive nose; lightly tart bit metallic/tangy light chalky strong floral/carnations/spicy/apple very pleasant flavor; very long tart/tangy/bit metallic fairly floral/carnations/apple bit chalky finish' quite a pretty white but just that; nothing profound or distinctive but quite pleasant.
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2. TablasCreekVnyd PicpoulBlanc Estate/AdelaidaDist/PasoRobles (12.8%) 2017: Med.light gold color; very fragrant apple/pear/quince bit floral/gardenias slight spicy/nutmeg very attractive nose; very tart/tangy/some metallic rather apple/quince/pear lightly floral/apple blossom somewhat light-weight flavor; long bright apple/quince/pear slight stony rather tart/tangy/metallic bit spicy/nutmeg finish; a bit leaner bright/tangy white; again nothing profound but quite pleasant.
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3. TablasCreekVnyd Vermentino Estate/AdelaidaDist/PasoRobles (13.0%; Rolle grape) 2017: med dark gold color; bit phenolic/oxidative/nutty light floral/fragrant/apple bit complex nose; soft some nutty/oxidative light floral/Verm some tangy/metallic flavor; long bit oxidative/nutty/phenolic finish w/ trace of bitterness; seems a bit oxidative and old before its time.
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4. TablasCreekVnyd Esprit de Tablas Estate/PasoRobles (13.5%; 40% Mourv/28% Syrah/22% Grenache/10% Counoise) 2013: Dark color; strong plummy/Mourv/bit licorice some earthy/dusty some Rhonish/CdP-like some complex nose; lightly tart some earthy/plummy/Mourv bit SRhonish/CdP-like some earthy/dusty/bit rustic flavor w/ light bit bitey tannins; long fairly Mourv/plummy/earthy some SRhonish/CdP-like bit complex finish w/ light tannins; a bit on the rustic/CdP-like side & probably not going to get a whole lot better.
$nc (vDD)
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5. TablasCreekVnyd Panoplie Estate/AdelaidaDist/PasoRobles (14.5%; 75% Mourv/15% Grenache/10% Syrah) 2013: Very dark color; much deeper more intense strong Mourv/plummy/licorice some blackberry/strawberry light pencilly/oak some Rhonish fairly complex nose; fairly tart rich/lush strong plummy/Mourv/licorice less Rhonish/CdP-like light pencilly/oak some complex flavor w/ some ripe/round tannins; very long/lingering somewhat tart/tangy light earthy fairly rich/lush strong plummy/Mourv/licorice bit blackberry/strawberry light pencilly/oak some complex finish w/ modest ripe tannins; still can benefit from a few more yrs; a bit less Rhonish & more Calif in character; my strong preference of these two. $nc (vDD)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The Vermentino was a bit of a mystery. It had a rather oxidative character and seemed old before its time. Not sure if it was a flawed screw-cap or what.
The two '13's were brought by Darren at my request for a comparitive tasting. The Panoplie is the TCV flagship wine and sells for a significant tarrif over the EspritRouge unless you buy it on futures. When I've tasted the Panoplie in the past, I liked it quite a lot, a bigger/richer style of red for TCV. But not sure it was worth the tariff. So I asked Darren to bring a btl of each from an older vintage. I definitely preferred the Panoplie, but still not convinced it's worth the tariff unless you buy it on futures.
Tom
