Tasting - Côtes de Tablas 2012

• Côtes de Tablas
• 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Mourvèdre
• Paso Robles, California
• USA
• 2012
• $35
• Steven Tanzer Reivew - Deep ruby. Cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate aromas, along with a hint of candied flowers. Densely packed but energetic, with dark fruit and licorice flavors complicated by a touch of rose. Very smooth and gently sweet, showing very good clarity on a broad, subtly tannic finish with repeating licorice and floral notes. 91-92.

My Tasting Notes

Color: Deep ruby half transparent and bright. rims with brick hint

Nose: Staw berries, dried spices and fig, raspberry jam, violets, hint of wet stones and grass, bold gamey fat (bacon fat?)

Palate:

• body: 4
• acidity: 4
• tannin: 3.75
• alcohol: 4.5

At first the wine was okay, but after 30 minutes of decanting the oxygen opened up the bottle and really made the game and riper fruit flavors come out. Great big and round body with soft and smooth tannins and ripe acidity balanced by high alcohol for a big and complex, but very smooth wine. Heavy game notes, steak juice, dried figs, black pepper spice, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and a touch of black currant. This bottle was great.