"The 2011 Patelin de Tablas is slightly richer than the 2011 owing to the greater presence of Syrah. Dark red cherries, flowers and tobacco wrap around the deep, expressive finish. Today, the 2011 shows some of the effects of its recent bottling, but it should come together nicely over the next few months. The 2011 is 52% Syrah, 29% Grenache, 18% Mourvedre and 1% Counoise. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016."

  "The flagship 2009 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc is 62% Roussanne, 26% Grenache Blanc and 12% Picpoul Blanc. It reveals lovely delineation, freshness and verve. Scents of white peaches, flowers, minerals come together beautifully on the layered finish. The 2009 Esprit has lovely vibrancy for the vintage, mostly owing to the inclusion of 12% Picpoul, which adds much needed acidity. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016."
 

  "I am thrilled to see the 2009 Esprit de Beaucastel burst from the glass with an exciting melange of dark red cherries, flowers, sweet herbs, mint and spices. Exotic spiced notes linger on the finish. The 2009 boasts serious intensity, richness and depth, but it remains quite tannic and in need of further bottle age. The vintage saw both frost and drought, two conditions that are a little unusual in the same year. Now that it is in bottle, the 2009 meets all of the expectations I had when I tasted it from barrel last year. The blend is 40% Mourvedre, 28% Syrah, 27% Grenache and 5% Counoise."