Winemaker Notes
#41 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2018
Bright and varied range of aromas with predominance of black fruit, notes of iron, cocoa, liquorice and aromatic herbs. Lush, consistent, very tasty, with crisp but fresh tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A velvety texture carries ripe fruit flavors of plum and blackberry in this plush red. Cocoa, loamy earth and mineral notes add depth and interest. Ripe tannins are well-integrated, and balsamic acidity keeps this lively. Drink now through 2029.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
Spain's remote, high elevation Spanish wine zone between the regions of Bierzo and Ribera del Duero produces intense, full-bodied reds made from Tempranillo, locally called Tinta de Toro. This local variant has adapted to the region’s climatic extremes and recognizing its potential, top producers from Ribera del Duero and Rioja have invested heavily in its vineyards.