Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2008 Sabor Real was produced from 70+-year-old estate vines. Dark ruby-colored, it offers up a splendid bouquet of crushed rock, spice box, tobacco, lavender, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate it is full-bodied, sweetly-fruited, spicy, and plush. This lengthy effort can be enjoyed now and over the next 6 years. It is an outstanding value that over-delivers big-time.
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.