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Tag Archives: tempranillo

Dao Sul Quinta de Cabriz ‘Cabriz’ 2014, Dao, Portugal

14 Thursday Sep 2017

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$8, 5 stars, 90 points, alfrocheiro, portugal, tempranillo, Touriga Nacional


$4….  Yup, even though it’s only 375ML (half a bottle).  I could not help myself to try this Portuguese blend of Touring Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and Alfrocheiro.  As much as I love the wines from Portugal, they seldom appear in smaller stores, restaurants or places I would be traveling to.

This wine is inky, which bodes well for me!  The nose is somewhat muted right now, but there are signs of black fruit, tar, charcoal.  The initial palate has very precise flavors of black berry, kirsch and creosote.  The wine is precise, with more black fruits on the mid palate that parallel the fine grained tannins and barely perceptible acidity.  The alcohol is low at 13% which merits mention.  The minerality of this wine pops up towards the finish and shows off graphite, charcoal and licorice.  The finish has a nice ending of blackberry alongside the drying tannins.  I’m going to agree with the 90 point rating it got and give it 5 stars for the value here.  I can think of several pairings, but am enjoying it so much all by itself that I won’t bore you.  Drink till 2022.  Salut….

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Olarra Clasico Reserva 2009, Rioja DOCa, Spain

08 Friday Sep 2017

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$14, 5 stars, 90 points, grenache, rioja, spain, tempranillo


When I see a wine that advertises a 97 point Decanter (or any other reputable critic for that matter) rating that I can get for under $14 it’s a must try.  So I bought a bunch of this back in 2015 and forgot about them, until now.  The wine is a medium purple with a touch of orange.  On the nose, very fresh aromas of black cherry, blueberry and some oak. On the palate I get just what I was hoping for.  Vibrant blue fruits, rich plum, some creosote and olive.  The wine has a tannic streak that starts at the beginning and crescendos at the finish.  The mid palate shows off some Tempranillo earthiness and some rhubarb, the sour kind.  That is where I sense acidity and it balances the package nicely.  The finish is medium in length and has hints of spice box and more earthiness.  A blend of Tempranillo and Garanacha.  I can’t see 97 points, more like 90.  Having said that- for the price, it’s a major 5 star wine.  Drink till 2025.  I’m having Chorizo, a Spanish style salad and grilled asparagus with mine.  Salut….

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Pagos del Rey Condado de Oriza Reserva 2011, Ribera del Duero, Spain

17 Thursday Aug 2017

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$20, 4 stars, 90 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


Dark purple in the glass.  An intriguing nose of Cloves, black pepper and blackberry.  On the palate- dark berries, ink, dust.  Delicious.  The mid palate is a smooth transition to some blue fruits including a plum reduction.  The finish has some very fine grained tannins and blueberry compote.  A very intricate wine that needs a cellar imho. Drink from 2018 to 2025.  90 points and 4 stars for this $20 effort.  Salut….

Pagos del Rey Condado de Oriza Reserva

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CVNE ‘Cune’ Crianza 2013, Rioja DOCa, Spain

01 Tuesday Aug 2017

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$11, 5 stars, 90 points, rioja, spain, tempranillo


See through purple, not what I was expecting from a Tempranillo out of Rioja.  The nose is however right up that alley.  Red currants, earth and a tar component greet me. The telltale creosote is alive and kicking in this wine, as is a touch of vanilla.  On the palate, I get a brutish, young and cocky wine full of red fruit, with raspberries, strawberries and currants popping.  The acidity is vibrant and the tannins are lithe.  The mid palate carries the red fruit theme and amps up the acidity factor.  On the tail end the finish is fresh with tannins and strawberry extract.  More red currants sneak in right at the close.  Very smooth and nicely balanced, but I don’t get a hint of the yearlong oak maturation after the initial whiff.  Might be well integrated, who knows.  This wine is a great summer addition to a party, serve it with dry rubbed ribs, perhaps a bourbon glazed pork chop on the grill or even just a basic Mezze.  I’m going with 90 points on this $11 stunner that makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink now till 2022.  Salut….

CVNE 'Cune' Crianza

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Bodegas Penafiel Miros de Ribera Reserva 2004, Ribera del Duero, Spain

03 Monday Jul 2017

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$20, 5 stars, 92 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


It’s been a while since I have had any 2004 Miros, but I came across this bottle when I was cellar diving. It’s a fun sport, I recommend it all the time! The wine has held up well from the looks of the ever so gently bricking colors. The purple is still evident, with just a touch of orange on the edges. On the nose, I am delighted to report some very earthy Tempranillo overtones, mixed with blueberry pie. My initial taste is fantastic, this wine has aged well. The blueberry fruit is still forthright but there is a strong sense of earth, some funky dirt and a lashing of nice acidity to go with the very fine grained tannins still swirling about. This wine is at peak. The mid palate exhibits more blue fruits and a slight dryness to go along with the layers of flavor. The finish is mostly a tannic affair with some black cherries and a tar component. Really a well made wine that I have enjoyed over the years. Drink it on its own or with some charcuterie. It will drink well for a few more years, no rush. 92 points all things considered. I paid $20 back in 2011, wishing I had bought more than just the case plus two Magnums. 5 stars for sure. Salut….

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Rivallana Crianza 2013, Rioja DOCa, Spain

13 Saturday May 2017

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$14, 3 stars, 89 points, rioja, spain, tempranillo


Nearly see-through medium shade of purple.  A somewhat subdued nose of black currants and earth.  The initial taste is of more black fruits, including black cherries and some currants.  The wine is not as full bodied as I thought it would be but it has a certain elegance that I am enjoying.  The mid palate has plum tart and a toasty oak hint.  The wine shows a decent amount of acidity and the tannins are very fine grained and well integrated.  The finish shows a touch oak and some raisins.  I would pair this wine with grilled pork chops, eggplant parmesan or some cheese, ham, and olives.  89 points from me but the label says it got 95 Decanter points, I’m not seeing that. I paid $14, which make it a 3 star wine.   Salut….

Rivallana Crianza, Rioja DOCa, Spain

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Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel Pena Roble Reserva 2004, Ribera del Duero, Spain

13 Saturday May 2017

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$25, 4 stars, 91 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


Still a dark purple after 13 years.  Nose of figs, earth and violets.  On the initial taste- not what I was expecting.  Plums, blueberries, fresh and zesty.  This wine is so young.  The tannins are very integrated but not dry.  Mid-palate wise there’s blue fruit and cassis.  The finish is where this wine shines- leather, tobacco and blue fruit jam.  Oak peeks through right at the end.  Smooth and sexy, I like this wine from Magnum.  91 points from me and a reward for cellaring it for so long.  I paid $50 per Magnum back in 2014 for this Tempranillo.  4 stars!  Salut….

Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel Pena Roble Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain

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Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘de Restia’ Crianza Selected Harvest, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2009

07 Wednesday Dec 2016

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$15, 3 stars, 88 points, Ribera del duero, spain, tempranillo


A lighter purple color with a touch of orange bricking on this crianza level wine that has 7 years of cellaring.  On the nose, a subdued level of plum and dusty earth- a hallmark of the varietal.  On the palate a somewhat rustic initial attack of dark fruits, with dried oregano, earth and very dry tannins.  The acidity is somewhat lacking and is overcome by the tannins, which is not a bad thing.  The finish is decent in length and offers up more purple fruit flavors with a touch of heat.  The dryness on the gums goes on forever, which I kinda like!  The wine, at this stage of its life is giving me pause….  It has a really tannic structure yet I feel it is not able to age much more due to the low acidity.  The fruit is starting to dry up but there is not much evolution.  All in all a pop-n-pour wine that won’t break the bank at $15 and gets 88 points from me.  This 3 star effort would pair well with some charcuterie, perhaps a bowl of pasta Arrabiatta.  Salut….

Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel 'de Restia' Crianza Selected Harvest, Ribera del Duero, Spain

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CVNE Rioja Reserva Spain 2012

12 Wednesday Oct 2016

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$15, 86 points, rioja, spain, tempranillo


I will start out by saying that the label and name got me.  The 93 point WS capsule sold me along with the $15 price tag at my local Costco.  How could I pass on this amazing QPR (Quality Price Ratio).  I have read much about this winery and all their award winning wines.

Nose of blueberry and earth.  On the palate I get subdued notes of blue fruits, some blackberry and a swath of fine grained tannins.  There is an offsetting acidity that is bracing.  The wine is short on the finish but I fear I am drinking it prematurely.  For now it lacks depth and is rather thin.  If I were to score it on it’s initial presence- 86 points is all I could.  The label  states that it got a monster 93 points, which would make this $15 bottle a 5 star wine.  Let it breathe for 24 hours and revisit.

Nope, still a little light in the flavor profile and the wine seriously lacks depth.  Did I get a bum bottle?  I am heading back to Costco soon and will get another, surely I am wrong.  For now I will reserve judgement on this Tempranillo blend and just give a preliminary rating of 86 points and 2 stars.  Stay tuned for updates on what could be the biggest winner out there (3 pts for $15….Dang).  Salut….

The cork, hmmm

The cork, hmmm

img_1153

The talker...

The talker…

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Sigston Swift Aunt Prissy Tempranillo 2014, McLaren Vale

31 Wednesday Aug 2016

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$15, 4 stars, 88 points, australia, mclaren vale, tempranillo


A friend brought this to the tasting, and I was impressed.  I was not expecting a Tempranillo from Australia, nor one that was this delicious.

Dark purple, with lots of extraction.  A full on nose of black currants, a hint of earth/dust and possibly some eucalyptus. A super smooth intro of Ribena, black olive and spice on the palate.  The tannins are very integrated and there is a nice touch of acidity.  The mid palate gives black fruit and an interesting note of bell peppers.  This wine drinks well now and will drink nicely all by itself or perhaps with some charcuterie.  It may have some cellaring capacity but the structure calls for pop-n-pour.  It closes with a sour cherry note and a mid length finish that I enjoyed.  I’m not sure if much oak influenced this wine but the relatively low 13% alcohol makes it a treat to drink.  I really like this wine and look forward to it becoming more widely available.  A very respectable 88 points from me and 4 stars for its $15 price point.  Salut….

sigston swift aunt prissy tempranillo

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