Recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wines, and Many More. Check out our recent Press.

Award-winning NYC wine shop – free local delivery & fast nationwide shipping. Learn more

Tablas Creek, Esprit de Beaucastel Hospice du Rhône, 2006

Red Wine from Other California, United States
$39.99
Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout.
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles
This is a chance to drink a Paso Robles Rhône blend at the age its makers were waiting for. When Tablas Creek tasted this 2006 ten years on, they thought it was still too young. Every vine behind it was grown from budwood cuttings taken from Château de Beaucastel and planted on Tablas Creek's certified organic estate. The blend leans on Mourvèdre (45%) for dark fruit, earth and richness, with Grenache, Syrah and a splash of Counoise. 2006 cooled off late in the season, so the harvest was slow: Syrah came in at the end of September, and the last Mourvèdre wasn't picked until November 9. That gave the wines lower alcohol than usual, clear varietal character and good acidity. It was fermented with native yeasts, aged in big 1,200-gallon French oak foudres instead of small barrels, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The winery counts it as part of a ripe, slightly wild era, and you can still taste some of that ripeness next to the savory herbs that came with age.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • Corked wine? Full refund or exchange within 60 days
  • Damaged shipment? Contact us within 48 hours
  • Storage or quality concerns? We're here to help


View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Sunday - Thursday: 12 pm - 8 pm

Friday: 11am - 9pm

Saturday: 10am - 9pm

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (212) 477-1315

Robert Parker

92 points

"The brilliant 2006 Esprit de Beaucastel (45% Mourvedre, 28% Grenache, 22% Syrah, and the rest Counoise) possesses abundant aromas of underbrush, blueberries, blackberries, coffee beans, and licorice. An elegant, long, pure, medium to full-bodied effort, it is a faithful representation of its Mediterranean blend. Consume it over the next decade." —Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Wine Spectator

93 points

"Well-balanced, intense yet elegant. Full-bodied, showing vivid blueberry and wild berry flavors, with hints of nutmeg, cedar and coconut. Ends with a long, complex finish that shows a pleasant loamy, earthy quality."

More about Tablas Creek

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Counoise , Grenache , Mourvedre , Syrah

  • Vintage

    2006

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Biodynamic

  • Style

    Earthy

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

What has to say about this wine:

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Braised short ribs with black olives, Boeuf Provençale, roast duck, herb-crusted lamb, venison stew, or a beef stir fry with black bean sauce.

Tasting Profile

This is a mature wine. When young it showed red plum, cherry, boysenberry and blackberry with pepper and nutmeg. With age it has turned savory: meat drippings, Provençal herbs, bay leaf and balsamic, a cool juniper-like spice, and a touch of sweet, candied ripeness. It's medium-bodied and velvety, with chewy, well-blended tannins and good acidity. The finish is mineral and spicy, with a light touch of oak.