2019 Tablas Creek Vaccarese

The 2019 Vaccarèse represents the second harvest from these four-year-old grapevines. Proprietor Jason Haas says he believes it is the first varietal Vaccarèse to be bottled in the US. "We’ve never found this grape in existence outside of the Rhône," he notes. "There are only about 13 acres in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and seven acres elsewhere in the Rhône. It's used in tiny percentages in most places." This varietal iteration has a medium garnet color and a gregarious perfume of cherry candy, red licorice, powdered sugar, orange peel and earthy accents. The palate is energetic and spicy, with clay-textured tannins and a unique saline character on the finish. "It's reminiscent of Gamay from Beaujolais," Haas says, "except for that grip." 160 cases were made of this unique cuvée.