Winemaker Notes
Ruby-red with garnet highlights, this wine shows the aromas typical to La Mancha: black cherries, raspberries, strawberry jam, and spices. However, underneath those aromas, pervasive minerality and spiciness add to the complexity of this delicious wine. On the palate, crisp acidity, smooth tannins, and a moderate to full body give this wine great structure and ultimate age worthiness.
Pair this wine with jamón serrano, Paellas Valenciana and Morisco, as well as filet mignon served with Hollandaise sauce.
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.