Tempranillo

Classis Ribera del Duero wine made from 100% Tempranillo. 14.5%abv. Garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is dusty with spice and cherries. Nice acidity. Firm tannins. Lovely texture. On the palate, black cherries, some cherries, coffee. Plenty of depth. The complexity emerges with some air in the glass. Long finish with a touch of chocolate. This drinks great on its own, and is food friendly. It went quite well with a carrot dip made with Moroccan spices. Drink over the next seven to ten years.

This is made in the style of a Ruby Port.  Made from Touriga Nacional and Tempranillo grapes.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, cherry candy, and slight raisins.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Cherries and Craisins.  Balance.  Moderate finish.  It was a nice way to end our Passover Seder.  It needs plenty of air at this stage but then drank well.  Nice on its own, this worked nicely with chocolate Macaroons.  

A very consistent wine from vintage to vintage.  This is a big wine that drinks more "new world'.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black cherries, char, spice, slight blueberries and a hint of roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is up-front and delicious.  Lots of black cherry fruit with some smoke and spice.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue for another twenty years.  Great on its own, this works well with big flavors.  It can stand up to chorizo sausages.  

Made from Organic Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes in Spain.  This is the kind of wine, that might be easy to dismiss.  It is not meant to be serious with its playful packaging and ceramic stopper.  But, at the end of the day, it is a nice wine.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  There is a slight frothy spritz.  On the palate, there are raspberries, fresh and candies, oranges, and a slight sweet quality to it.  On the palate, this is sweet but not cloying.  Cherries, black cherries and raspberries.  The finish has a bit of a bitter cherry quality.  There is enough acidity for this to work w

One of the best of the traditional Rioja wine producers.  This wine lived up to its reputation.  A blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, 10% Graciano and Manzuelo.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, slight plums, vanilla, smoke and slight balsamic notes.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, this has plenty of depth.  Cherries, dried cherries, smoke and slight dill notes.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This is delicious and complex.  It drinks great on its own and even better with food.  Lamb stew would be a nice choice.  Drink over the next fifteen to twent

I am told this is Tempranillo Blanco.  Very pale yellow gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is tight but with some air show both limes and peach.  Interesting.  Slightly oily texture.  On the palate, it is somewhat candied with notes of lingonberries.  Sorter finish.  An interesting wine that would benefit from food.  Sardines might be an excellent paring.  Drink over the next year.  12% abv.  

This is the basic wine from this great, traditional winery.  Purchased at a Tapas restaurant, this is an excellent value.  It is a blend of Tempranillo (65%), Garnacho (25%), and the rest Mazuelo and Graciano.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is great with cherries, slight dill, tobacco and slight mushrooms.  Medium bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, loads of fresh cherry fruit with just a bit of dried over a dry tobacco base.  Some spice.  Nice finish.  This is nice on its own but worked even better with a series of small Tapas plates.  Drink over the next eight

This is made from 100% Tinto de Toro (Tempranillo) grapes in the Toro D.O. in Spain.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cassis, some anise and slight spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, strong acidity.  Cassis and black cherry fruit.  Nice finish.  This is drinking a bit past prime it seems but still nice.  It works better with food,  A nice wine for Taco Tuesday.  Drink up.  

This is 100% Tempranillo from California's Central Coast - Paso Robles.  A very interesting take.  Inky purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, and is dusty with dill (American oak?).  Full bodied.  This is a big wine.  On the palate, cherries with dust.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  Very firm tannins.  This seems like it will need time but I doubt it ever loses its "bigness".  It is also delicious.  For those who like this style of wine, drink over the next twenty years.  Glazed Pork Tenderloin would be a good match.  

This is the second wine of Pingus, but that doesn't seem fair to call it a "second" wine.  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with plums, cherries, black cherries but also some black licorice and spice.  Full bodied.  This had been decanting for a few hours and was still young and tannic.  On the palate, notes of black cherries, cherries and spice.  Very ripe but no noticeable heat or alcohol.  Medium tannins.  Good finish.  This is drinking well now but should still improve over the next ten years.  Drink over the next twenty.  A nice match for hearty beef or por