2006 Tablas Creek Vineyard Mourvedre (91 Points)

DATE CONSUMED

Saturday, December 3, 2011

VINTAGE

2006

WINERY/PRODUCER

Tablas Creek Vineyard

WINE NAME

Mourvedre

TYPE OF WINE

Red

COMPOSITION

90% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah

SUBNAME/NICKNAME

N/A

VINEYARD DESIGNATION

Estate grown and bottled

REGION/A.V.A.

Paso Robles, California

ALCOHOL CONTENT

14.5%

PRICE PAID

$28

WHERE/WHEN BOUGHT AND/OR HOW PROCURED

We bought this bottle at the winery’s tasting room in November, 2008.  We were so taken-aback by the quality of TC’s wines that we joined their wine club that day (I’m assuming the price we paid for this bottle is the wine club member discounted price).

BOUQUET

Knowing how well TC’s wines age and mature (as well as knowing the characteristics of southern Rhone varietals), I assumed this bottle would need at least an hour or two of decanting, which I dutifully performed.  The bouquet exhibits a cornucopia of red and black fruit (especially raspberries and black cherries (similar to a Pinot Noir)), along with plenty of black pepper and savory herbs, as well as hints of earth and oak.  Blind folded, I would/could have assumed this wine was a Pinot Noir.

TASTING NOTES

Keeping the Pinot Noir theme going, the first thing to hit the palate is rich, spicy, zingy red fruit; like the bouquet suggested, that would mean mostly raspberries, strawberries, and sour cherries.  Next up is TONS of black pepper, along with rosemary, sage, and a few other herbaceous elements.  The finish reveals a bit of earth and oak, along with firm tannins.  This wine, even after five harvest years, is still incredibly young and fresh.  Due to its fantastically well-structured acidity, this wine will probably stay young and fresh for another 10+ years!

This is a delicious, perfectly-oaked, spicy, zingy red with wonderful depth of flavors (just like a quality Pinot Noir) with legs so young and fresh, this wine could probably run three or four marathons after putting in a 12-hour day at work. 

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

We paired this wine with Barefoot Contessa’s Beef Bourguignon and it was a wonderful match.  In keeping with the Pinot Noir theme, this wine would also pair nicely with duck, steak, prime rib, lamb, and just about any kind of richly braised meat dish.  Or, you could really get crazy and take my cousin Jennifer’s pairing suggestion: “Serve with Hostess Ding Dongs for dessert!  Unfortunately, NOT good with Twinkies!”  She may have been kidding, but who knows………  She’s that kind of gal.

AGING POTENTIAL

This wine is drinking quite well right now, but as I mentioned above, this is still a young, virile, FRESH wine that will probably be at its peak in another five years or so.  My best guess is that this wine will be eminently enjoyable up to about 2025 or so.

SCORE

91 Points

Q.P.R. (QUALITY-TO-PRICE RATIO) (POOR, FAIR, GOOD, EXCELLENT)

GOOD

WINERY WEBSITE

http://www.tablascreek.com/