2018 Tablas Creek Le Complice

The 2018 Le Complice is a blend of 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache and 15% Terret Noir. It has a medium ruby-purple color and very pretty scents of blackberries, blueberries, bergamot, forest floor and aniseed. The palate is medium to full-bodied, silky, perfumed and ultra juicy with a long, flavorful finish. 800 cases produced.

Bright violet. Bright and energetic on the highly perfumed nose, displaying intense dark berry and floral aromas that pick up spice and mineral character as the wine opens up. In a juicy, energetic style, offering appealingly sweet blackberry, blueberry and cherry liqueur flavors and suggestions of licorice and candied violet. Finishes impressively long and smooth, with a hint of velvety tannins and resonating spice and floral notes.

The 2018 Le Complice is more Syrah-dominated cuvée and includes 25% Grenache, and 15% Terret Noir. This plum/ruby-colored effort offers a complex nose of black cherries, blueberries, spring flowers, and sappy, peppery herbs. Medium-bodied, with bright acidity and plenty of grippy tannins, it's another Rhône-like beauty from Tablas Creek. While there’s plenty to like in the lineup, I was unquestionably disappointed in the 2017s from Tablas Creek. This was the poorest showing I’ve seen from this estate to date and compared to past vintages, the wines are simple and lack concentration. It gives me no pleasure to say it as it’s a great team and great people, but the wines should be better.