Tablas Creek Vineyard, Roussanne 2005 ($27) - Light straw in color with aromas of pear, pineapple and orange blossom. Crisp pear and pineapple flavors with nice minerality on the finish. Wow.
Score: 91
Rating: 4/5 stars
Tablas Creek Vineyard, "Esprit de Beaucastel" Blanc, Roussanne/Grenache Blanc/Picpoul Blanc blend 2005 ($35) - Light yellow in color with aromas of pear, honey and spice. Pear, citrus and pineapple flavors finish long with refreshing acidity. A delicious Rhone blend that shows what can be done with these grapes in California. I will cellar a few bottles to see what happens with 5, 10 and 15 years of bottle age.
Zaca Mesa, Roussanne 2003 ($25) - Golden yellow in color with aromas of
apricot, pear and toasty oak. Ripe apricot, fig and white peach flavors
with a nice creamy lees component, minerality and orange peel from
mid-palate to the finish. Perhaps just a touch too much oak for me but
still nicely done.
Beckmen, "Le Bec Blanc" 2005 ($20) - A blend of 57% Roussanne, 30%
Marsanne and 13% Grenache Blanc. Golden straw in color with aromas of
white peach, almonds and orange blossom. Rich and oily in the mouth
with citrus and pineapple flavors finishing with some minerality, nuts
and spice. A very nice wine but could use a bit more acidity and fruit
on the palate.
Tablas Creek Vineyard,
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Roussanne 2005 ($27) - Light straw in color with aromas of pear, pineapple and orange blossom. Crisp pear and pineapple flavors with nice minerality on the finish. Wow.
Score: 91
Rating: 4/5 stars
Tablas Creek Vineyard, "Esprit de Beaucastel" Blanc, Roussanne/Grenache Blanc/Picpoul Blanc blend 2005 ($35) - Light yellow in color with aromas of pear, honey and spice. Pear, citrus and pineapple flavors finish long with refreshing acidity. A delicious Rhone blend that shows what can be done with these grapes in California. I will cellar a few bottles to see what happens with 5, 10 and 15 years of bottle age.
Score: 92
Rating: 4/5 stars
Zaca Mesa, Roussanne 2003
Zaca Mesa, Roussanne 2003 ($25) - Golden yellow in color with aromas of
apricot, pear and toasty oak. Ripe apricot, fig and white peach flavors
with a nice creamy lees component, minerality and orange peel from
mid-palate to the finish. Perhaps just a touch too much oak for me but
still nicely done.
14.8% ABV
Synthetic cork closure
Score: 88
Beckmen, "Le Bec Blanc" 2005
Beckmen, "Le Bec Blanc" 2005 ($20) - A blend of 57% Roussanne, 30%
Marsanne and 13% Grenache Blanc. Golden straw in color with aromas of
white peach, almonds and orange blossom. Rich and oily in the mouth
with citrus and pineapple flavors finishing with some minerality, nuts
and spice. A very nice wine but could use a bit more acidity and fruit
on the palate.
13.9% ABV
Natural cork closure
Score: 89
Rating: 3.5/5 stars