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Michelle L. said: "When we first came here over 10 years ago there was a bold white horse in a corral. He still remains in the tasting room proud above the mantel of a stone fireplace. If you love the jammy bold taste of wines come here Steve does a…" read more »
84 reviews for Tablas Creek Vineyard
84 reviews in English
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Review from Arlene M.
1/8/2012
I loved all the wines I tasted here, so much so that I decided to join their wine club. I'm not usually a white wine fan, but their white rhone blends were a red wine drinker's white wine. Their reds, however were awesome. I loved their En Gobelet and Tannat wines, but my favorite is still their flagship Esprit de Beaucastel, made in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape style. They have a partnership with the French Chateau Beaucastel and their Grenache/Mouverdre/Syrah plantings actually use the cuttings from the French winery in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
They comped us our tastings since we joined the wine club, but they normally comp your tasting anyway if you buy a bottle. They let you keep the glass if that matters to you (I actually don't care too much about getting free glasses, since I have nice glasses at home anyway). The winemaker here is the same one from Lone Madrone but I preferred the wines here, perhaps I prefer the traditional old-world style.
This place is definitely a must-go if you're ever in the Paso Robles region, probably one of the best (if not the best) winery in the area. -
Review from Josh S.
San Francisco, CA
12/1/2011
A decent tasting if a bit clinical. I've tasted a couple of their wines and been impressed, so it was a must see while we were in Paso.
The first two whites we tasted weren't quite right, but we weren't sure if they were cool enough. We did get a couple of add'l tastings, which included their refreshing Palatin blanc which we took home with a great quality-price ratio. Very nice in that we could revisit any pours and had a couple added on to the standard list to match our tastes. In the reds, Mourvèdre seems to be the grape they've done the best with as all the reds that didn't showcase it seemed flat but again we started on an off note which may have tainted our tasting a touch.
Has your standard gifts shop and pleasant staff lacking in a certain passion that I've come to expect from most tasting rooms. They have some great wines, but should make sure the wines are great a show perfect before you start printing the T-shirts. -
Review from Bill T.
Pleasanton, CA
11/14/2011
The Holy Grail of Rhone's in Paso...? Just maybe. I've had a few Chateau Beaucastel's in my time & covet these epic Châteauneuf-du-Pape's with deep reverence. Knowing that not only the owners, rootstock, winemakers & style all originate from there made this a must see stop in Paso & on the 1st stop of our 2nd day it certainly did not disappoint.
Could not find a SINGLE wine that we did not almost immediately want to have a case of to schlep home. It was actually hard to keep our order under 3 cases knowing that we had at least a dozen wineries left to visit. If you like your wines with a slight tanic backbone, a bit less residual sugar, a good deal more minerality, and something that can actually lay down for a few (10+years even) years longer than the typical Californian/New World red, this is your new wine Mecca.
Can't wait for our 1/2 yearly shipments to begin to arrive! -
Review from T Z.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/1/2012
Great service from people who make wonderful wines.
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Review from David M.
12/4/2011
I'm not pushing 60 so I guess I'm not as welcome here as the geriatrics. Beautiful grounds but the wine was all substandard. I really don't understand how people can say anything positive about the wine, unless they know absolutely nothing about it. The tasting itself was a bit awkward and stilted, and pretentious.
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Review from Erica S.
9/6/2011
Finally came to visit the reputable Tablas Creek. This is a must stop winery in Paso Robles.
Their vines were imported from France and their wines definitely taste like French wines. I don't drink French wines very often, but when I do drink it, I do enjoy it as it has a more sophisticated taste. Not big bold flavors like California wines. All reds and whites were to my liking, which is not very common when I visit most wineries. Would even consider joining their wine club.
The staff was knowledgeable and helpful in explaining each varietal that we enjoyed our tastings. In the end, we picked up a bottle of the Cotes De Tablas Blanc (blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne). Surprisingly, it was a twist top. -
Review from Emily Y.
7/5/2011
Tablas Creek produces some of the highest quality wines in all Paso. No super jammy Zins, watered down Pinots or flat whites here. They specialize in Rhone blends and they do it very well.
The grounds of the estate are pretty and the tasting room a decent size. It has a classy feel to it, not a "fun for big groups" type of party feel, but an ambience that works for serious wine enthusiasts. The pourers are quite knowledgeable and are helpful explaining the different blends.
And the wine? High quality, complex wines with great body and beautiful notes. I liked many of them so much I even walked, no stumbled away with a wine club membership. The wines are in the $30+ and may be a bit much for the casual drinker. But if you know your wines and want excellent Rhone-style blends, Tablas Creek is highly recommended. -
Review from Tylor M.
7/22/2011
This place has become a staple for Paso Robles. They've become so popular that they've had a hiring boom. Because of that, you don't always get the knowledge that you would get from other wineries. Still, the wine is excellent, the landscape is fantastic, and I can really see why they're so successful. I'm going to rate them on my most recent experience with our server Mary. I picked a bottle of the Cotes de Tables, which just popped onto Wine Spectator's best value wines today.
Service: 5/5 stars
Knowledge: 5/5 stars
Price: 4/5 stars
Quantity: 5/5 stars
Quality: 5/5 stars
Value: 4/5 stars -
Review from Melissa S.
Sierra Madre, CA
10/2/2011
The wines were nice, BUT....the service here was terrible. We had a group of 12 for my husband's 40th birthday, and we'd booked a tour because we'd been told it was a good one. We called to let them know that we were running 20 minutes late from our lunch, and they told us that they couldn't help us. When we showed up at their tasting room, we apologized for running behind and asked if there was anything they could do since we were celebrating a special occasion. The exact words of their response were "we rolled up the red carpet 20 minutes ago".
Since it was obvious we weren't getting a tour, I asked if they could spend a little time talking through some of their history during our tasting. I received a blank stare in response. When one of our group asked a question, he was told "I don't think you're really that interested" and he received no answer.
Needless to say, we left without making any purchases. The wine may have been ok, but the entire experience left an incredibly bitter taste in all of our mouths. -
Review from ERIC P.
Agoura Hills, CA
6/4/2011
Must say, what a surprise find, let alone what a surprising state of the art facility, in the middle of the "country" roads.
I'm not up on any French wines at all. But, what an education we received, and I have a fond new respect for this Varietal.
You all really need to stop in. Prices are all across the board. -
Review from Anna Marie D.
Oakhurst, CA
11/16/2011
We enjoyed a bottle of 2007 TC Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc last night and it was fabulous paired with homemade chicken enchiladas. Yum!
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Review from April M.
5/24/2011 1 photo
Had a great time at Tablas Creek. Mary was awesome! She was personable, engaging and definitely knew her stuff!! Not being familiar with Rhone varietals, her knowledge helped educate this poor girl. Haha.
Tasting fee is $10 (wine glass is yours to keep!) and includes 3 whites/3 reds, but if they have a bottle of Tannat (aka Dr. T) open, ask for a taste! It is a must try!! :)
Don't show up drunk/TIPsyyy. If you must, ACT sober. ;) They can and will refuse to serve you. Witnessed this as we were walking out.Listed in: Wine Not?!
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Review from Lissa G.
1/18/2011
Excellent service with yummy wines!
Visited Tablas with some local friends; even though it was the "Passport" weekend, we were accommodated wonderfully. We did have to pay ten bucks to taste, although we were able to keep the glass as well as have the tasting fee waived with purchase. Our wine guru Steve was so kind and informative. As we chatted him up about the wines we were tasting, I commented how I was surprised that I liked one of the wines since it has a lot of grenache in it. Steve, being very sneaky, went to grab another bottle of wine. He told us it was mourvedre; after tasting it, and liking it, he revealed that it was pure grenache. It wasn't even on sale yet to Club Members, which I thought was very nice. He did eventually bring out a mourvedre too. It was really great to taste two extra wines, in addition to the 6 or so that were on the list.
It looks like they're adding on a ton of square footage; not sure if it's a larger tasting room or what, but it should be awesome when they're done! -
Review from Jim G.
2/8/2011
What a fun tasting with a nice inviting room!
We recently went to Tablas for a tasting. In the past I thought most of their wines were on the fruity or sweet side, but Steve at Tablas changeed my mind. Steve took us from end to end with a taste of almost all their wines. He even tried to trick our palates with mixing some wines up. I liked the challenge.
I would definitely recommend to pop in if you are in the area. -
Review from T G.
Los Angeles, CA
6/22/2011
This is a fantastic winery, both in terms of service/knowledge of wine, but most especially because they have what I'm always on the hunt for: blends and varietals that I've never had before, and, in this case, never even heard of before.
Our pourer/explainer was Sylvia, who was charming, knowledgeable and made very appropriate recommendations once she knew what we liked and wanted.
Back to the varietals and wine: they have, quite simply, what no one else does, and it's all high quality. The Tannat, along w/some others, is like no other wine I've tasted, and I was so pleasantly surprised we joined the wine club and bought some on the spot. The depth of their product line is, to say the least, bracing.
The facilities are gorgeous, it's relatively and nicely remote and removed from most other vineyards/wineries (you have to want to come here, you're not likely to stumble upon it randomly) and their wine club has great benefits. It's like they're actively seeking to become more involved with their customers, both socially and educationally, and there isn't even the slightest whiff of exclusivity or snobbery. They know they're onto a great thing, they'd like to get the word out, and their products make that incredibly easy (and delicious)
Do yourself a favor if your seriously interested in serious wine: get off highway 46, forget wineries that look like castles, drive past the signs for the more well-known producers and take time to get up in the hills to Tablas Creek. You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Rob G.
Los Angeles, CA
6/5/2011
Tablas Creek was the second stop of our second day tasting in Paso and didn't knock most of us out, but was nice!
The tasting room was quiet but quiet friendly and featured bars that could accommodate our group of 10 (By this point) in an area that felt almost semi-private.
Tasting was 10$ (you keep the large, attractive glass, which was waived for the entire group when one of our number joined the wine club.)
The wines are very french in style, and an impressive feature of the tasting room was the mega barrels imported from france which were visible through a window. The rosé was the favorite of our subgroup (and we tend to be a bit picky about rosés)
They have a beautiful, slightly terraced deck area with tables and umbrellas that would have been great to spend time on if we were there on a less rainy day.
If you're planning a tasting trip to Paso Robles, I hope you'll find the list below useful! -
Review from Casey U.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2011
One of the least outstanding and most hyped wineries I've had the oppurtunity to visit. Their white wines are nice, but the customer service was rather pretentious and not at all willing to provide any information about their wines, even on what was a seemingly slow day.
For a vineyard that claims to produce "Rhone Style" wines, many of their wines hover around 14.5% ABV, which is certainly not food-friendly. Their flagship "Esperit de Beaucastle" is a nice wine, but for 50$ a bottle, it's certainly not worth the price and at 14.5% ABV probably not suitable for pairing with anything short of a pepper steak or Boef Bourgignon.
Not worthy. -
Review from Guy C.
Scotts Valley, CA
10/11/2011
If Simon Cowell visited here he would say, you sung it well but I would have forgotten it by tomorrow. Harsh but the wines were good but not great.
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Review from rosanna c.
Berkeley, CA
4/19/2011
If you don't like white wines, Tablas Creek may change your mind. I usually dump or avoid white wines when tasting, but I effortlessly finished them here.
With vines cloned from those at Chateau de Beaucastel, Tablas Creek is like a piece of France in California. All the wines we tried were excellent, light and ready to be served with that night's dinner. The bottles are a bit pricey, $30 and above, but if you love traditional Rhones, you'll probably pay up.
The grounds are picturesque and the spacious tasting room is perfect for groups, including novices, looking to learn about and enjoy quality wines. Tasting includes about 7 wines and a souvenir glass, with the fee waived with bottle purchase. Definitely worth a return visit. -
Review from Angela B.
3/23/2011
I can't say enough good things about Tablas Creek. They do Rhone in the traditional sense, focusing more on blends than on single varietal offerings (though they do have a few, including a rare tannat that I really loved). I also love the style of their whites, and how the pourers seem to have every fact and figure about every wine on the menu committed to memory.
Their prices really run the gamut, from low/mid $20s to triple digits, depending on the bottle, but they have such an enormous library that it isn't too hard to find something you really love that fits your budget. I don't remember if they charged a tasting (because we bought wine anyway) and I don't see anything about it on their site, but I'd guess they probably charge $10. Even so, we tasted a ton of different wines, so it would be hard to complain even so.Listed in: California Wineries
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Review from Darcy R.
Sacramento, CA
1/31/2011
If you are in the Paso Robles area then you have to make a stop at this winery! They have a wonderful selection of Rhone style wines. I especially enjoy their picpuol blanc and grenache blanc.
The service I received while tasting at the visiting room was unbelievable! The staff were so friendly and this was by far my favorite winery to visit in this area!
I came home with more wine than expected and I am even considering joining their wine club ; ) There is nothing like a wonderful glass of wine! -
Review from Bradley N.
Missoula, MT
Updated - 9/23/2010 1 photo
It was the legendary Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, who penned the memorable line that opens Anna Karenina: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Well, if old Count Lyev knew as much about wine as he did about train-spotting women and peasant folk song, he might also have written that:
"Bad wines are all alike; but every great wine is great in its own way."
So much for the great Russian novel. Let's talk great Californian wine instead. And by great, I mean in this case Tablas Creek Vineyard. Their wines are all great, each in their own way. Not at all the same. Not necessarily better than other top-end, estate-grown, organic/biodynamic producers. But they will open your eyes to the immense diversity of tastes, aromas, and colors that is Vitis vinifera.
Nobody is ordering Merlot here, my Sideways-quoting friends. Here, it's about the Rhône varietals married to the terroir of Central California's Paso Robles Western hills. Fog, heat, wind, and exposure make for some unique growing conditions, while Jason Haas and its enological band of inspired blending brothers turn out vintage after vintage of tasty stuff for cellaring or just opening and enjoying with your Wednesday afternoon leftovers.
When I first reviewed TCV, it was the vineyard tour and tasting room that won us over. We had such a great time here that we canceled our other trips that day and just stayed for an extra few hours before heading back to the B&B (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) with a bottle to be popped on the porch to accompany an evening's repast.
Now, as I go about remembering my very first month of Yelping in September 2009 ("So long, so far away is Cambria" as Langston Hughes might have said), I am drawn to update this, one of my first, terribly amateurish reviews in order to highlight Tablas Creek's superb semi-annual VINsider wine club. Every 6 months, 6 new bottles arrive expertly shipped and packaged right to our doorstep (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
Each time, it is like rediscovering wine all over again, like some sort of magical time portal has opened, revealing new tastes and adventures to be savored and sipped and seductively swallowed. The names roll off the tongue:
Rousanne, Marsanne, Mourvèdre, Vermentino, Counoise, Picpoul Blanc, Grenache, Syraaaah ...
No Cabs or Chards or Zins here! It's all about the Rhône River watershed and the Southern Mediterranean. Grapes you don't find at the 7-11 or Safeway.
Are they good? Yes, yes, yes. Are they perfect? No, but they taste and smell and mouth-feel like no other. Again, it's not like there are not other great wines, some even better than those vinted by TC. But for us, all we need to do is open one of their new, sleeker, more eco-friendly glass bottles (some with very elegant screw caps), and we're back in the hills and valleys of Paso Robles wine country.
And that's a place I'd have liked Tolstoy to have seen. I'll bet that he would have been a Tablas Creek fan, too.Listed in: In Vino Veritas, Cambria's Discreet Charms
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/4/2009
Tablas Creek embodies the best of Paso Robles' Westside winemaking and is absolutely worth a… Read more »
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Review from Jamie W.
8/24/2010
I will be the first to admit that I don't really know much about Paso Robles as a wine region, nor did I have the time to look into things much prior to our most recent little vacay. Lucky for me, I was traveling with some very "type-A" personalities who scoped everything out ahead of time. Yay for not doing homework!
French inspired wines? Yes, please. I've been to France and drunk my fair share of all they have to offer. Twice. Whereas I didn't really get the whole Cotes du Rhone taste or feel from Tablas Creek, there wines overall were very good. Especially the Cotes de Tablas (for a weekday wine) and the more complex '07 Esprit de Beaucastel (at $50 not exactly an everyday selection).
We tasted in the little room off to the side (there were 8 of us) and the girl who poured for us was sincerely friendly and accommodating. I'm usually annoyed by the merchandise sold at the wineries (you know, the mayo, the vinegars, etc...it's so generic!) but Tablas Creek actually had a few things worth purchasing.
As for the grounds, we didn't do much exploring since they were in the midst of a site remodel. They comped our tastings with purchase (more places need to do this). Overall, a nice little find!Listed in: Paso Robles/Central…
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Review from Anne C.
Torrance, CA
7/26/2010
One of my favorite little vineyard!!!
Tablas flight of tasting was excellent. Everything was balanced and smooth.
When we were curious about the other wine they had that was not on the tasting list, the lady was very generous and allowed us to taste more without charging us extra.
The lady also gave us an extra wine glass to take home (one for me and one for my bf) while waiving our tasting fees. Yay!!! We won't have to fight over the wine glass!!!
Tablas member pricing was great too. Most winery give you 10-15% discount with membership while Tablas offers up to 25%.
Lastly, they had a pretty little garden that was nicely landscaped. Love the scenery!!! -
Review from Ryan K.
Atascadero, CA
1/17/2011
Being a local, Tablas Creek is one of the oldest and well established wineries in the area. They have had there share of awards and have a strong local following. Their wines are good, but a little over priced for what you get. Their flagship wine is the Esprit de Beaucastel, a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Syrah & Counoise. A nice blend, but not worth the price you will be paying...$40 wine club/ $50 without. You can get so much more value from other local wineries.
I did purchase a 2007 Vin De Paille desert wine, only because I has never had anything like it and it was worth getting my $10 tasting fee back. I might stop back in a year or two for another attempt. Give it a try if its on your wine tasting route. -
Review from emily u.
Aliso Viejo, CA
8/1/2010
The great part about this winery is that their tastings are $10, but if you buy a bottle (about $20-30) it is complementary, plus you keep the glass. We loved it!
Also, they have specialty olive oils and other cooking spices and products to taste and purchase! It is wonderful!
I don't remember the name of the lady who helped us (alas, it was the middle of the trip) but she was very kind and helpful. I walked away with their Cotas de Tablas, which was really good! -
Review from Kristine B.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2011
I actually came to Paso specifically for Tablas Creek after having one of their whites at French Laundry over a year ago. It was my first stop for my first trip to this area. I've tasted several times in the Napa Valley area and could never find a winery I absolutely enjoyed. Well, I can say those days are long gone.
Disclaimer: When I go to a restaurant, I always ask for a light, crisp white wine. That's my wine style. I don't like buttery, oak tasting wines aged in 100% new French oak barrels. I don't like highly acidic wines. I'm generally not a fan of Cabs or Syrahs. Just an FYI since everyone has their own wine palate. It took me awhile to figure out my own.
So yes, I found my style. And Tablas Creek is my style. If I were to join a wine club, I would join here. Rhone varietals...where have you been all my life? Thank goodness I went to FL and asked for my light, crisp white because it brought me here!
I took the 10:30am tour on a Sunday and did a tasting after. It's $10 for a tasting and the tasting fee is waived if you purchase a bottle of wine. You do also get to keep your glass!
My tour guide, Steve, was super friendly and showed us around the vineyard. We also visited the greenhouse area and he explained how they graft the French grapes to American roots. They really focus on growing high quality grapes using sustainable practices. It was pretty interesting.
After the tour, we did the tasting and I def enjoyed myself. I'm not a fan of Syrahs, but I actually liked their Syrah. I was shocked. I liked all the wines I tasted from Tablas Creek. Steve, who also poured our wines, was nice enough to let me try additional wines not in the tasting flight - Chardonnay and Bergeron, my new love. Bergeron is made from 100% Roussanne grapes fermented in neutral oak. If you like my style wine, I think you'll love this one.
I also recommend both the Esprit de Beaucastel, their signature wine, and Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc, this is the wine I tried at FL. Both are fab!Listed in: Paso Robles Wineries
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Review from Jonathan W.
Milwaukee, WI
7/22/2010
One of the true gems through Paso Robles. If you are a fan of Rhone varietals then this place is your dream come true. Joint Venture with Chateau de Beaucastel, searching for years for the right soil to make a sister vineyard.
People are knowledgeable, wine is great still an unknown. The rose for 2009 recently began getting press but it is the Espirit de Beaucastel (both red & white) that make this vineyard great.
Great stop on an afternoon of pick-up for a dinner bottle. Highly recommend! -
Review from Deanna C.
Irvine, CA
3/28/2011 1 photo
Absolutely beautiful winery and tasting room and great wines. We had a great time talking to the gentleman that was pouring for us and tasted quite a few great wines. We ended up buying a few bottles because they were all so good we could not pick our favorite. This place is definitely worth the stop.
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Review from Ms. B.
San Luis Obispo, CA
Updated - 11/10/2010
Went back again and the wine was less impressive than the first two times. Their red Esprit 2007 and 2008 are wonderful and the Mouvedre was also very good but I felt let down by the others.
Since the first visit I've been to several other wineries that I've liked much more--Tablas has good wine and a beautiful tasting room but each time I go back my review goes down another star.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/22/2010
Great wine! If you don't mind the drive out there you'll enjoy your tasting experience here. I've… Read more »
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Review from Dominic O.
Washington, DC
2/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
You're not going to find the jammy, high-alcohol zins that are so popular in the area. Tablas specializes in Rhone varietals, and they're widely known as among the best. You're not going to find a bad wine here--they wouldn't sully their name by putting one out. You will find wines that you might not have tried anywhere else.
As far as reds, they have excellent Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. The Tannat (which you don't often see as a single varietal)Their blends are where their wine-maker really shines, though. The Cotes de Tablas (aka "table wine") is ostensibly their basic red wine, but it's lush, fruit-forward, and delicious. Their Esprit de Beaucastel is their flagship, so it's as elegant as you'd expect.
Among whites, they have corresponding Cotes de Tabals Blanc and Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc, which are of similarly high quality as their red counterparts. They also have an excellent Roussanne as well as Vermentino, which I haven't see anywhere else. The Vermentino isn't for everyone, but I love its "austerity".
Finally, their dessert wines are pricy but really special. They're not cloying at all and actually have as much character and depth as the rest of their wines.
Besides the incredible wines, their property is beautiful, and everyone in the tasting room is really knowledgeable and friendly. This place is unquestionably worth the trip! -
Review from Larry M.
5/29/2010
***My winery/tasting room reviews are rated based upon many factors. First is QPR or quality to price ratio of the wine. In other words, is the wine priced according to how good it is. The second factor is the tasting room experience. This involves the staff, grounds and anything unique about the winery.***
Tasted: Mid-2010
Tasting room fee: $10, refundable with purchase
Wine price range: $27-$50
Many people told me I had to stop here. Tablas Creek has a reputation for making great rhone wines. I decided to stop in spite of the tour bus that was in the lot (a group from Gallo Wines).
The staff here was great, very accommodating and knowledgeable. I roamed the grounds and gave myself an impromptu tour. No one seemed to mind.
The wines are definitely fantastic. When it comes to rhone varietals in Paso, they are often considered one of the tops. Indeed, their esprit de beaucastle (red) was awesome and I left with a couple bottles. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Culver City, CA
11/29/2010
Make sure to call ahead and reserve a spot for the vineyard tour. You can walk out into the vineyard and learn all about it. Very cool. You can even bring your dog!
Alex who works in the tasting room is awesome. She definitely helped make the whole experience fun!
They also have some nice gifts for sale in the tasting room. They're all organic and really strive to produce a classical French style wine.
5 Stars! -
Review from Perky L.
San Antonio, TX
6/23/2011
If you love the earthy, herbal, complex qualities of French wines, this is your place. DELICIOUS, gorgeous wines made from imported French vines and with French wine making techniques. We are not big white wine lovers, but theirs are outstanding. We've been club members for years now and each shipment has been a delight.
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Review from Michele R.
Bend, OR
2/20/2010
Our visit to Paso Robles was less than two full days long and we had not intended to make the fifteen mile drive from our hotel to Tablas Creek given the host of wineries in closer proximity. When I mentioned that to an acquaintance who is wine collector and retail wine seller he responded about like this..."Are you NUTS? Tablas Creek makes among the best wines in the New World...GO!"
So, go we did and we are so glad we followed his direction!
Tablas Creek bottles remarkable Rhone blends and varietals. We were bowled over by the 2007 Esprit de Beaucastel. We also thought the 2008 Cotes de Tablas Blanc was a teriffic wine at a value price. Were money no object we would have bought more of these two and one of everything else on the list!
The tasting fee is $10, which includes the tasting glass, and is refunded if you purchase wine. The day we visited we remember seven or eight tastes. The tasting room staff member was highly knowledgable about the wines and we learned a good deal from her.
The tasting room is well designed but this is not the "wow" setting of places like Robert Hall or Calcareous but it is very definitely a "wow" destination for great wine. In reading another Yelp review I see that Tablas Creek is buidling a new, larger tasting room and like the other reviewer we're disappointed to learn that as the current room is cozy and delightful for our mid February visit when crowds were few. -
Review from Paul K.
San Francisco, CA
8/3/2009
We were looking forward to this place as it was on several recommended winery lists for the region. Since we generally like Cote-Du- Rhones, we thought we would walk away with a couple of bottles.
The drive here and to Justin's was by far the most scenic wine country drive I've experienced. The area was very natural with many small rolling hills and winding, tree-lined roads. It had a rural beauty that's been mostly lost at Napa and the landscape is naturally more beautiful than Russian River Valley and even the scenic Carneros region of Sonoma. I would come back again just for the drive!
When we arrived at the winery, we found a small tasting room which was bright with 2 small counters for tasting. The staff was a bit serious, seemed a bit uncomfortable and had very low energy. The interaction was a bit awkward.
Since Rhone grapes are not as common, as you taste the wines, they actually provide pictures of the grapes from which the wines were made and a brief description of the grapes. To our surprise we didn't like any of the 7 wines we tasted. -
Review from Bryan M.
Carlsbad, CA
1/2/2011
Great service, Great Wines, and Great Staff.
We had a wonderful woman helping us with the tasting (I wish I could remember her name). We loved the Esprit de Beacastel and even ending up joining the wine club.
I highly recommend stopping by Tablas Creek if you are visiting the far out wineries in Paso Robles, do not pass this place up. -
Review from Mike K.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/22/2011
Some of the best damn wines in Paso. Their flagship wine, Panoplie is so damn good every year it comes out. If you are a fan of Rhone style blends, then you must go here. Some of the best American versions of Rhone wine.
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Review from Ryan D.
Redlands, CA
6/21/2010
Great Experience. A new favorite. Tablas is a partnership between the Perrin family of Beaucastel Fame and some rich American Import dude. They produce approachable Rhone blends with enough fruit for the American Palate while keeping it Old World Real.
Balanced Fruit and Varietal Truth my 2 cent review.
Beautiful Grounds and a Educational Tour. We were on the way to Carmel for a weekend jaunt with the kids and stopped since we have enjoyed their wines before, and the kids loved it. -
Review from George D.
Los Angeles, CA
6/18/2009
After making an ill-fated turn or two, getting ridiculously lost in transit, and driving about 10 miles more than we should have, we made it to our third stop at Tablas Creek.
It was quite busy inside, but we were still able to secure some space for tasting as others set up a nice little picnic for us outside in their patio area.
Tablas Creek definitely has the Paso white wine game on lock. I think we essentially came here to try the Antithesis Chardonnay, and it did not disappoint. Arguably the best I've ever tasted. Scoring ridiculously high, yet priced well within reason.
Now, to find where the hell I can buy it on the cheap around my parts.Listed in: Paso / SLO Wine Tour June 09
