Couple California Unusual Red Wines

f unusal red wines from California:

udiness. Nose of red berries and black earth. Smooth and supple, a bit ju icy with fresh berries and spice on the palate. Nice fresh acidity and ove rall well balanced. "A-"

n the glass almost black. Nose of smoke and savory herbs with tons of blac kberry and blueberry. Very smooth on the palate with blackberry, black che rry and stoney minerality. Firm tannins on the finish. Very impressive wi ne "A"

I've had Cali Charbano, but Cali Tannat is one up on me! Cool selections, t hanks for notes

of unusal red wines from California:

loudiness. Nose of red berries and black earth. Smooth and supple, a bit juicy with fresh berries and spice on the palate. Nice fresh acidity and o verall well balanced. "A-"

in the glass almost black. Nose of smoke and savory herbs with tons of bl ackberry and blueberry. Very smooth on the palate with blackberry, black c herry and stoney minerality. Firm tannins on the finish. Very impressive wine "A"

thanks for notes

Tablas Creek is somehow connected to the Perrin family and the tannat is on e of the Rhone varietals that they use in their "Beaucastel" hommage wine. I find all of their wine compelling.

Yes, I think TC is owned by the Perrins and Robert (?) Haas, one of their US importers. But surprised if they use Tannat in the Esprit de Beaucastel, it's not a Rhone grape (Madiran is main Tannat area).

s one of the Rhone varietals that they use in their "Beaucastel" hommage wi ne. I find all of their wine compelling.

US importers. But surprised if they use Tannat in the Esprit de Beaucastel , it's not a Rhone grape (Madiran is main Tannat area).

You are correct....I visited Tablas Creek a few years ago and recalled them talking about the Tannat being sent from Perrin. I just checked and it wa s in fact sent to them from Perrin with their CNP clones because the vintne rs at Perrin felt that Tannat would thrive in Paso Robles. I was almost co rrect. Thanks for keeping me straight.

As I think you're probably well aware, Tannat also shows up in Irouleguy from the French Basque region. It's often blended, however, so varietal Tannat is something of a rarity.

Mark Lipton

I've never had Irouleguy but I have had Madiran many times. The Tablas Cre ek is a much more usuer friendly version. Tannic but with a fairly large f ruit component that follows through the tannic hit and on to the finish. R eally quite good and I would buy more.

reek is a much more usuer friendly version. Tannic but with a fairly large fruit component that follows through the tannic hit and on to the finish. Really quite good and I would buy more.

Discovered I have one in my cellar. Will try it with the short ribs that ar e cooking now.

I drank a 2000 Ch. Bouscass last year and promised myself to get more as it was gorgeous, full-bodied and fragrant (possibly in part due to a minor cab constituent). Unfortunately, the shop in Calgary where I bought it was destroyed in the recent flood. Graham

f unusal red wines from California:

udiness. Nose of red berries and black earth. Smooth and supple, a bit ju icy with fresh berries and spice on the palate. Nice fresh acidity and ove rall well balanced. "A-"

n the glass almost black. Nose of smoke and savory herbs with tons of blac kberry and blueberry. Very smooth on the palate with blackberry, black che rry and stoney minerality. Firm tannins on the finish. Very impressive wi ne "A"

f unusal red wines from California:

Had my first tannat in 2003 near Nice. Restauranteur called the bottle the "latour of the cote d'azur". Michael David Winery (Lodi) occasionally mak es some as part of their aptly named "inkblot" series. Powerful wine.

Marc>

udiness. Nose of red berries and black earth. Smooth and supple, a bit ju icy with fresh berries and spice on the palate. Nice fresh acidity and ove rall well balanced. "A-"

n the glass almost black. Nose of smoke and savory herbs with tons of blac kberry and blueberry. Very smooth on the palate with blackberry, black che rry and stoney minerality. Firm tannins on the finish. Very impressive wi ne "A"

f unusal red wines from California:

udiness. Nose of red berries and black earth. Smooth and supple, a bit ju icy with fresh berries and spice on the palate. Nice fresh acidity and ove rall well balanced. "A-"

n the glass almost black. Nose of smoke and savory herbs with tons of blac kberry and blueberry. Very smooth on the palate with blackberry, black che rry and stoney minerality. Firm tannins on the finish. Very impressive wi ne "A"

Had the 2008 last night with short ribs. Was as good as described. Do not q uite understand why we bought it in the first place but glad to have done s o. Perfect match for the food.