($27):  Tablas Creek Vineyard needs no introduction to wine lovers.  This property, founded in 1989 by the Perrin family of Château Beaucastel (an iconic Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer) in partnership with wine importer Robert Hass of Vineyard Brands, was a pioneer and leading force in what is now California’s success with Rhone-type varieties.  Vermentino, typically thought of as an Italian grape, is, in fact, the most commonly planted white grape in the southern Rhône Valley, according to the Oxford Companion to Wine.  Tablas Creek has done a wonderful job with it.  No surprise there, given their track record.  A delightfully floral aromas merge with a saline-tinged minerality to produce a vibrant and brilliantly refreshing wine.  It would be a great choice for any heat wave.
91 Michael Apstein Jul 13, 2021