INSIDER'S PICK: 2013 TABLAS CREEK VINEYARD 'PATELIN DE TABLAS' PASO ROBLES (Vinous 89-91pts) $21.99

With the first big blast of cold weather hitting this week, it's a good time to feature a red that will help you steel your nerves and your core against the temperatures outside. But as we always do here, this isn't just a big wine for the sake of being big, it also made with a story behind it and a sense of place and purpose. Tablas Creek was founded nearly 30 years ago as a collaboration between the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel in Chateauneuf and the Haas family who import their wines to the United States. The families spent years creating the winery before they ever produced their first wines, finding a site that best mirrored the conditions found at Beaucastel, and then the long process of bringing cuttings over from France to be planted here. In fact, their ongoing vine nursery program is almost as important to Tablas Creek as the wine itself, as many vineyards across the country proudly state their Rhone varieties come from the 'Beaucastel Clone' that Tablas Creek has propagated. The Patelin line of wines are the value wines for Tablas (relatively speaking), and are built from vineyards around Paso Robles that their vine cuttings have helped to establish. While the ratios can vary from vintage Syrah and Grenache are the dominant varieties with Mourvedre and Counoise accompanying in the background.

The 2013 version of the Patelin Red is dominated by a healthy dose of Syrah (nearly 50%) and the first sniff is mostly the dark black fruits that Syrah shows off from warmer climates. As it opens up the spice and slightly meaty tones from the other varieties start to show through, but for the aromas the Syrah is main stage. On the palate the other grapes show through more, with the darker tannins of the Mourvedre and the softened edges of the Grenache, and even a slight hint of tart gamey meats from the small splash of Counoise (because that's all it really needs to have an impact). This is a wine for comfort foods like a hearty stew or a pot roast, something made simply but with quality ingredients and effort, perfect for warming you up after a day outside.

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