Paso Robles Wine Country Rhône varietals was the focus of our visit to Tablas Creek Vineyard. I can not think of a better introduction to the Rhône varietals (other than being in France) than spending some time with Paso Robles Rhône Rangers. Just in case you are wondering what is a Rhône varietal or a Rhône Ranger here is an overview provided by, the Rhône Rangers of course:
The Rhone Rangers dedicate themselves to the grapes whose ancestral home is in France's Rhone Valley. The French government recognizes 22 varieties in the various appellations that comprise this large and diverse wine-growing region. Rhone Appellations (including Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Condrieu, Chateuneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Bandol, Cotes du Rhone and several others) each choose a different subset from the collection of grapes known (from their place of origin) as Rhone varietals. For a wine to be considered a “Rhone Ranger” wine, and poured at an official Rhone Rangers tasting, the 22 recognized accepted varieties must comprise at least 75% of the blend.
Click on the links for a complete list of red and white varietals.
Wine Tasting with Paso Robles Rhône Rangers
Our #WBC14 #pasowine Pre-conference wine blogger visit began with a brief walking tour of Tablas Creek with Jason Haas. When we returned to the tasting room we sampled wines from local wineries that had stations setup. What the wineries have in common is that they are members of the Paso Robles Rhône Rangers. Paso Robles Rhône Rangers mission is to (1) provide education and promotion of Rhône varietals and blends, and (2) promote the region as a top producer of Rhône varietal grapes and wines. I will now describe my wine tasting experience with the Paso Robles Rhône Rangers.
Our tour of Paso Robles Wine Country was indeed special because we meet these talented winemakers.
During our visit we introduced to wines from four wineries poured by their winemakers.
1. Tablas Creek Vineyard: Our host winemaker, Jason Haas pour two wines for us and a barrel sample.
The first wine was an Esprit Blanc De Tablas 2012 (a blend 75% Roussanne, 20% Grenache Blanc and 5%Picpoul Blanc).
The second wine was Patelin de Tablás Rosé 2013 (a blend 73% Grenache Noir, 22% Mourvedre, 5% Counoise).
Then we were in for a special treat, a barrel sample of Tablas Creek Vineyard Terret Noir 2013.
Tablas Creek is one of the premier wineries to visit in the Paso Robles area. If you prefer to drink wines from organically farmed vineyards then put Tablas Creek Vineyard wines on your list for the following two reasons: (1) it is Certified Organic and (2) it produces great wines. Tablas Creek's organic vineyard wine production is centered around its 120 acre estate vineyard. It is also important to note that Tablas Creek wines gets great reviews by wine critics.
2. Calcareous Vineyard is appropriately named given that it is located on one of the highest limestone (calcareous rock) plateaus on the west side of Paso Robles. The Calcareous Vineyard wines that I tasted included:
Calcareous Vineyard Lily Blanc 2013 ( a blend of 41% Viognier, 33% Grenache Blanc and 26% Roussanne)
Calcareous Vineyard Trés Violet 2011 (a blend of 42% Granche, 38% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah)
Calcareous Vineyard Syrah 2011
After tasting these wines and researching Calcareous Vineyard I recommend this as a must visit Paso Robles winery. The accolades that Calcareous Vineyard has received for its wines and its scenic location puts it high on my list.
3. Écluse Winery is a small, family owned boutique winery. Owners Steve and Pam Lock focus on making a limited production of handcrafted award-winning wines. They use sustained viticultural practices in their Lock Vineyard. I tasted two award winning Écluse wines.
Écluse Prelude 2010 ( White Rhone Blend)
Écluse Syrah 2010
After tasting these wines I can see why Écluse Winery wines win awards. Visitors to this boutique winery highly praise their tasting room experience.
4. Caliza Winery produces wines from gapes grown in the limestone soils of Templeton Gap, Paso Robles. In case you are wondering Caliza is Spanish for limestone.
From Caliza Winery I tasted three wines. These wines included Kissin Cousins 2012 and Pink 2013 (Syrah and Granche) and their Azimuth 2011, a blend of 42% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 22% Mourvedre, 3% Petite Syrah and 3% Tempranillo.
Caliza Winery is known its handcrafts limited production, ultra premium wines. They also use sustainable approach to farming their vineyard.
Our visit with Paso Robles wineries engaged in the production of Rhône varietals and blends was indeed insightful. If the Rhône varietals and blends that I tasted are any indication then Paso Robles is well on its way to being a top producer of Rhône varietal wines. Paso Robles American Viticulture Area (AVA), San Luis Obispo County is California's third largest and fastest growing wine region. Given there are over 180+ wineries in the appellation the focus on wineries engaged in the production of wines from Rhône varietals provided me with a value lens to look at this wine region. It is also not surprising to me that Paso Robles Wine Country was named by Wine Enthusiasts as 2013 Wine Region of the Year.
The Rhone Rangers dedicate themselves to the grapes whose ancestral home is in France's Rhone Valley. The French government recognizes 22 varieties in the various appellations that comprise this large and diverse wine-growing region. Rhone Appellations (including Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Condrieu, Chateuneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Bandol, Cotes du Rhone and several others) each choose a different subset from the collection of grapes known (from their place of origin) as Rhone varietals. For a wine to be considered a “Rhone Ranger” wine, and poured at an official Rhone Rangers tasting, the 22 recognized accepted varieties must comprise at least 75% of the blend.
Click on the links for a complete list of red and white varietals.
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Arriving at Tablas Creek Vineyard © Spaswinefood
|
Our #WBC14 #pasowine Pre-conference wine blogger visit began with a brief walking tour of Tablas Creek with Jason Haas. When we returned to the tasting room we sampled wines from local wineries that had stations setup. What the wineries have in common is that they are members of the Paso Robles Rhône Rangers. Paso Robles Rhône Rangers mission is to (1) provide education and promotion of Rhône varietals and blends, and (2) promote the region as a top producer of Rhône varietal grapes and wines. I will now describe my wine tasting experience with the Paso Robles Rhône Rangers.
Our tour of Paso Robles Wine Country was indeed special because we meet these talented winemakers.
 |
| Paso Robles Rhône Rangers © Spaswinefood |
1. Tablas Creek Vineyard: Our host winemaker, Jason Haas pour two wines for us and a barrel sample.
 |
| Tasting Tablas Creek Wines © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Esprit Blanc De Tablas 2012 © Spaswinefood |
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| Patelin de Tablás Rosé 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Tablas Creek Vineyard Terret Noir 2013 © Spaswinefood |
2. Calcareous Vineyard is appropriately named given that it is located on one of the highest limestone (calcareous rock) plateaus on the west side of Paso Robles. The Calcareous Vineyard wines that I tasted included:
Calcareous Vineyard Lily Blanc 2013 ( a blend of 41% Viognier, 33% Grenache Blanc and 26% Roussanne)
 |
| Calcareous Vineyard Lily Blanc 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Calcareous Vineyard Trés Violet 2011 © Spaswinefood |
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| Calcareous Vineyard Trés Violet 2011 |
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| Calcareous Vineyard Trés Violet 2011 © Spaswinefood |
3. Écluse Winery is a small, family owned boutique winery. Owners Steve and Pam Lock focus on making a limited production of handcrafted award-winning wines. They use sustained viticultural practices in their Lock Vineyard. I tasted two award winning Écluse wines.
Écluse Prelude 2010 ( White Rhone Blend)
 |
| Écluse Prelude 2010 © Spaswinefood |
Écluse Syrah 2010
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| Écluse Syrah 2010 © Spaswinefood |
4. Caliza Winery produces wines from gapes grown in the limestone soils of Templeton Gap, Paso Robles. In case you are wondering Caliza is Spanish for limestone.
 |
| Écluse Winery © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Caliza Azimuth 2011 © Spaswinefood |
Our visit with Paso Robles wineries engaged in the production of Rhône varietals and blends was indeed insightful. If the Rhône varietals and blends that I tasted are any indication then Paso Robles is well on its way to being a top producer of Rhône varietal wines. Paso Robles American Viticulture Area (AVA), San Luis Obispo County is California's third largest and fastest growing wine region. Given there are over 180+ wineries in the appellation the focus on wineries engaged in the production of wines from Rhône varietals provided me with a value lens to look at this wine region. It is also not surprising to me that Paso Robles Wine Country was named by Wine Enthusiasts as 2013 Wine Region of the Year.
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Tablas Creek Winery © Spaswinefood
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Tablas Creek Vineyard © Spaswinefood
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Sharon
July 2014
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