Winemaker Notes
#36 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buy of 2019
Ruby red with violet hues, clean and very brilliant. Fruity, raspberry, red fruits aromas; very characteristic of the variety. Light notes of vanilla and spice. In mouth the wine is medium-bodied with a good equilibrium of tannins and acidity. Finishes with notes of raspberry, vanilla and light notes of wood.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A full black-fruit nose punches above its weight class, with depth of fruit and smokiness normally found in more expensive wines. A full, fleshy palate is held together by firm tannins, while this Tempranillo-led blend tastes of dark fruits, herbs and spices prior to a steady, lightly toasted 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.