Winemaker Notes
Intense purple color. Aromas of tobacco, licorice and blackcurrants. Full-bodied with hints of toast and mature fruit. Long balanced finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has aromas of black fruit, blueberries, dried oysters, grilled herbs and mushrooms. It’s full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Savory and structured with excellent energy.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark ruby to the eye, this wine has aromas of black cherry, vanilla and violet. Flavors of cassis, cherry, salted caramel and rosemary are set into a web of gentle tannins that fade into a soft, floral finish.
Editors' Choice -
Wine Spectator
A polished red, round and medium-bodied, with vanilla- and spice-laced black currant, fig cake and loam notes. Fresh and balanced, with creamy tannins firming the finish.
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.
The Moors gave it the name, ‘Manxa,’ which fittingly means ‘parched earth.’ La Mancha, the largest Spanish wine producing region in all of Spain, is one of its hottest and driest. Sturdy and drought-resistant white varieietes like Airen, Viura and Verdejo thrive in this environment.