I tried a tempranillo, again. Only I cheated by 20 percent! This Rioja has 80-percent tempranillo and 20-percent grenacha. Ah, the glorious grape known as grenache and grenacha!
My Impressions: A nice purple-red color, this wine takes time to open up. It is, after all, still a youngster. The nose, once warmed a bit, came across with some pepper and hints of blueberry and cinnamon. Earthy tempranillo paired with fruity grenache is backed by acid and soft tannins. Mouth feel is not full or well-rounded; however, it would be interesting to retaste this wine after the acids mellow in a couple more years. While acids play at the sides of my tongue, a burst of black cherry jam hits my mid-palate. Overall, this is a nice, simple wine that pairs well with food.
Label Blah-blah: Tastes of wild red berries with a clean palate with flavors of strawberry and raspberry. Grown around the town of Hormillo, which is at 1,865 feet. The vineyard’s soil is comprised of red clay and sandy limestone. The clay produces “ripe silky tannins with red berry flavors,” while the limestone gives the wine its “intense aromatic berry jam and plum accents.” The average temperature is 61.5-degrees Fahrenheit and annual rainfall is 18.3 inches. The wine is imported by Ole.
Wine~n~Trip 