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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2014 and 2015 (based on 4 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87.7 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 21 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by GoBlue2002 on 12/20/2014 & rated 87 points: Dinner with Parents (Novi, MI): This seemed to be a solid easy drinking California tempranillo at the price point, although not too memorable. (2362 views) | | | Tasted by K&J on 12/10/2014 & rated 88 points: Solid 88 if not 89. I like the touch of tannat and graciano but I think their portions were a little too much. I think they over influenced the flavor profile of the tempranillo. But, that may be just my palate. (2067 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 10/1/2014: More raspberry and violety and floral than what I remember. Less oak than I remember. Still great drinking stuff. Works it out at $15 for sure.
Apparently this tempranillo clone is more medium bodied - meaning fruit but less tannins to deal with. (2327 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 9/24/2014: Still bold, fresh and easy, works it out at $15. (2266 views) | | | Tasted by 4mentor on 9/6/2014 flawed bottle: Medium body, dark ruby color, dry. Cherry, blueberry, fall spice flavors, but very little of the characterstic tempranillo spice. Integrated tannins, light smoke. (2161 views) | | | Tasted by TKS9 on 5/25/2014 & rated 87 points: Mostly red fruit with toasty oak and a little bit of sweetness on this finish. This is on the simple side, but works well enough for what it is. (1113 views) | | | Tasted by tswichert on 5/11/2014 & rated 86 points: Decent table wine. Drinkable but unremarkable. (1189 views) | | | Tasted by RNgrapes on 4/19/2014 & rated 88 points: Dark garnet color, many long slow legs. Dark berries, a slight cherry taste. Lots of depth- very tasty. (1067 views) | | | Tasted by F_&_M on 4/16/2014 & rated 87 points: Pretty good overall, but the high RS really takes something away from the enjoyment. I would have given it 2 extra points were it drier. (987 views) | | | Tasted by grdnbrrtt on 4/2/2014 & rated 83 points: Light non-offensive berries and light tannins. (940 views) | | | Tasted by Ben Christiansen on 2/25/2014: Tannant is the new edition this year. More red fruit and a touch more structure than in years past, a touch less of the dark fruit but maybe a bit more elegant and layered. Its on a very rocky chalky soil and I think that comes through in the wine. (1016 views) | | | Tasted by grdnbrrtt on 2/15/2014 & rated 85 points: Very smooth and drinkable. Dark berry fruit and light tannins. (837 views) | | | Tasted by isaacjamesbaker on 12/16/2013 & rated 89 points: On the nose, smoke and charcoal mix in with black and red currants and dark plums, after a bit of air it showed more rose and tobacco aromas. Fine tannins, medium acid. The plummy, currant and raspberry fruit is velvety and tangy, backed up by cherry wood, hazelnut and dark roasted coffee. Some tobacco leaf and smoke on the finish. A blend of 83% Tempranillo, 10% Tannat and 7% Graciano, aged in a mix of French, Hungarian and American oak, 20% new. Very good for the money. (1060 views) | | | Tasted by rjonwine@gmail.com on 8/8/2013 & rated 90 points: Very dark ruby color; appealing, ripe berry, ripe black fruit, violets, baked black fruit nose; tasty, silky textured, licorice, tart berry, ripe black fruit, violets palate; medium-plus finish 90+ points (83% Tempranillo, 10% Tannat, 7% Graciano; 13.9% alcohol; good value at about $15; sample provided by winery) (481 views) | | | Tasted by nzinkgraf on 6/27/2012: 4,000 cases. Bright and light new oak appeal. Silky texture on the palate. Graciano blended in. (1234 views) |
| Matchbook Producer WebsiteTempranillo Varietal character (Appellation America) | TAPAS: Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society
Tempranillo is the premium red wine grape variety from the Rioja and Ribera del Duero region in Spain. Tempranillo's aromas and flavors often combine elements of berryish fruit, herbaceousness, and an earthy-leathery minerality. Being low in acidity and sugar content, it is commonly blended with Carignan (Mazuela), Grenache (Garnacha), Graciano, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
WineAccess
The varietal is at its best in top Riojas, where oak aging is employed to generate increased complexity and harmony. From the best sites, these wines can be remarkably concentrated with great aging potential. New wines from this region are darker, and more robust, with more dynamic primary fruit flavors than traditionally styled examples. These wines seem to reflect the influence of Spain's other key region for Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero. Regardless of style, Riojas tend to be medium bodied wines, with more acid than tannins. These wines generally feature Tempranillo blended with Garancha, Mazuelo, and Graciano. For these wines, there are three quality levels, which will appear on the label. Everyday drinking wines fall under the category of "Crianza", "Reserva" denotes more complex and concentrated wines, and "Gran Reserva" refers to the most intense wines, made only in the best years.
The same labeling scheme applies to wines from Ribera del Duero, which, like Rioja, is dominated by Tempranillo and shares similar blending grapes. Again, Ribera del Duero wines are generally darker and more powerful than the most traditional Riojas. These wines also generally see less oak treatment than Riojas. From Rioja, we like wines from Allende, Marqués de Cáceres, Montecillo, and Cune. In Ribera del Duero, consider Dominio de Pingus, Emilio Moro, Convento San Francisco, and Pesquera.
Pair older-style Rioja with simple meats like chicken, leg of lamb, and pork loin. However, the newer style of Rioja and Ribera del Duero works especially well with bolder meat dishes or an aged Spanish cheese like Manchego or Idiazabal. USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Central Valley The Central California Winegrowers (Official site) | Central Valley (California Wine Institute)Dunnigan HillsWindmill Vineyard |
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