Tablas Creek

"In this vintage, the 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel is decidedly huge. An exciting array of dark red fruit, black cherries, incense and tar come together beautifully. At first large-scaled and sweeping in personality, the wine finds more refined registers on the finish, where floral notes add a measure of lift and finesse. Today, the 2010 is a baby, though."

"Ripe orchard fruit and orange aromas are complemented by suggestions of honeysuckle and white pepper. Lush, honeyed and broad, offering juicy pit fruit flavors and a brighter note of lemon curd. Smooth, dry and focused, with good finishing clarity and chewy persistence."

"Pungent, mineral and herb-accented aromas of dried pit fruits, mango, honey and lemon curd. A smoky note comes up with air, along with a hint of anise. Then dusty, dry and sappy on the palate, with impressive intensity to the flavors of ripe orchard fruits, citrus peel and licorice. Finishes firm-edged and stony, with excellent persistence. A serious, soil-driven white wine that was raised in all neutral oak."

"The 2009 Esprit de Beaucastel, tasted from foudre, is very, very young. The wine literally explodes on the palate with a rush of dark fruit enshrouded within a wall of muscular tannin. The 2009 is a dark inward Esprit that will require patience, but when the wine opens up it will be a jewel. Actually, it already is. In 2009 the blend is 40% Mourvedre, 28% Syrah, 27% Grenache and 5% Counoise. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024."