2003 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel
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Tasting notes
The 2003 Esprit de Beaucastel is charming and seductive, with a mature mix of red fruits and spices elevated by sweet florals. This is round and juicy on the palate with licorice-tinged black cherries and exotic spices. Earth tones linger, and a twang of zesty acidity adds a mouthwatering component throughout the long and mineral-tinged finale.
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
3,400 c/s produced. 50% Mourvèdre, 27% Syrah, 16% Grenache, 7% Counoise. Warm, sunny vintage with cool nights. Ambient yeasts in open and closed steel fermenters. Aged in 1,200-gallon French oak foudres. Unfined and unfiltered. Strongly mineral and a touch peppery. Grainy, almost thick tannins, surprisingly gentle and smooth in a velvety texture. Juicy and builds to richer fruit across the palate. Still so youthful. (JH)
From a warm vintage, the 2003 Esprit de Beaucastel has fantastic, complex aromas and flavors, beautiful richness and a deep, layered mid-palate. Proprietor Jason Haas compares this to the 2012 and, certainly, its voluptuous texture and richness are similar. It’s drinking brilliantly and I would consume bottles over the coming handful of years, although it will last longer. Drink now-2018. Certainly a reference point for Paso Robles, Tablas Creek continues to produce wines in a restrained, age-worthy and savory style that sets them apart. Both 2010 and 2011 are strong here, with the 2010s showing additional depth and concentration and the 2011s showing pretty, elegant profiles. I suspect the 2011s will be on faster evolutionary tracks, but given their balance, they could surprise in the cellar. In addition to their current releases, I was able to do short verticals of their Esprit de Beaucastel (which is now called Esprit de Tablas) and Panoplie. To say I came away impressed would be an understatement. Tel. (805) 237-1231; www.tablascreek.com
(50% mourvedre, 27% syrah, 16% grenache and 7% counoise) Medium-deep red. Perfumed aromas of black cherry liqueur, forest floor scents and meat. Impressively silky and suave on entry, then sweet and supple in the middle, with no sense of excess weight. Compared to the 2002, this is a more fruit-driven blend, offering notes of black cherry, raspberry, iron, licorice and spices. Long, mounting finish features smooth tannins. At 14.8% this is high in alcohol for a wine from Tablas Creek yet quite moderate for a Rhone blend from this neighborhood.