The Tablas Creek Vineyard Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc 2009 is a blend of three estate-grown varietals, propagated from budwood cuttings from the Chateau de Beaucastel estate. Roussanne provides the core richness, minerality, and flavors of honey and spice, while Grenache Blanc adds green apple and anise flavors, a lush mouthfeel and bright acids. Picpoul Blanc completes the blend, adding a saline minerality and tropical notes.

The 2009 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc shows a rich, lifted nose, very spicy, with aromas of ginger, tangerine, asian pear, beeswax and herbs. The mouth shows classic Roussanne flavors of honey and spice, with a little tropicality lurking behind, and a long, dry finish with toffee and pear notes. We suggest that this wine will benefit from short-term cellaring, and drink well from mid-2011 through the end of the decade.

*The grapes for the Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc were grown on our 120-acre certified organic estate vineyard.