Date: Saturday, November 4th, 2017 - 7pm ET
Theme: Tempranillo & Tapas
"Wine is sunlight held together by water" - Galileo Galilei
Pronunciation: “Temp-rah-NEE-yo” - Tempranillo is derived from the word temprano, which in Spanish means “early.” Among red varieties in Spain, it’s considered an early ripener. Tempranillo is an easy to find and wildly diverse food-pairing wine that also happens to have great a great flavor profile for its value.
Tempranillo Characteristics:
- Fruit: Cherry, plum, tomato, and dried fig
- Other: Cedar, leather, tobacco, vanilla, dill, and clove
- Oak: Yes; typically aged 6-18 months in American or French Oak
- Tannin: Medium-plus tannin
- Acidity: Medium-minus acidity
- ABV: 13-14.5%
A Brief History of Tempranillo
- Proof of wine in ancient Spain was discovered in 1972, when archaeologists unearthed a mosaic of the wine god Bacchus at Baños de Valdearados in north-central Spain. Tempranillo may well have been the wine shown in the mosaic because it has been in Spain since 800 BC.
- The Phoenicians brought wine to Southern Spain. Tempranillo originated from this area, so it’s quite possible that Tempranillo is related to the ancient Phoenician species in Lebanon.
"Beer is made by men, wine by God" - Martin Luther
Tempranillo Wine Profile:
Major Regions: Spain (over 80% of vineyards worldwide), Portugal, Argentina, Australia, USA
575,000 acres / 232,700 hectares (2010)
Common Synonyms: Tinto del Toro, Tinta Fina, and Tinto del Pais (Spain); Tinta Roriz and Aragonez (Portugal)
Other Names
Rioja, Valdepeñas, Ribera del Duero
"Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages" - Louis Pasteur
Tempranillo is known by other names in certain regions: Albillo Negro, Aldepenas, Aragon, Aragones, Aragonez, Aragonez 51, Aragonez da Ferra,
Aragonez de Elvas, Arganda, Arinto Tinto, Cencibel, Cencibera, Chinchillana, Chinchillano,
Chinchilyano, Cupani, De Por Aca, Escobera, Garnacho Fono, Grenache de Logrono,
Jacibera, Jacibiera, Jacivera, Juan Garcia, Negra de Mesa, Negretto, Ojo de Liebre, Olho
de Lebre, Pinuela, Sensibel, Tempranilla, Tempranillo de la Rioja, Tempranillo de Perralta,
Tempranillo de Rioja, Tempranillo de Rioza, Tempranillo Rioja, Tinta Aragones, Tinta
Corriente, Tinta de Madrid, Tinta de Santiago, Tinta de Toro, Tinta do Inacio, Tinta do Pais,
Tinta Fina, Tinta Madrid, Tinta Monteira, Tinta Monteiro, Tinta Roris, Tinta Roriz, Tinta
Santiago, Tinto Aragon, Tinto Aragonez, Tinto de la Ribera, Tinto de Madrid, Tinto de Rioja,
Tinto de Toro, Tinto del Pais, Tinto del Toro, Tinto Fino, Tinto Madrid, Tinto Pais, Tinto
Ribiera, Tinto Riojano, Ull de Liebre, Ull de Llebre, Valdepenas, Verdiell, Vid de Aranda.
"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food" - W.C. Fields
What does Tempranillo taste like? Spanish Tempranillo delivers contrasting flavors of leather and cherries. The finer the wine, the
more balance there is between earth and fruit. The finish is typically smooth and lingers with
the taste of tannin on both sides of your mouth. Tempranillo wines from New World regions,
including Argentina, Mexico, and the United States, generally offer more fruit flavors like cherry
and tomato-sauce, followed by chunky tannins and less earthy notes. Tempranillo can be
characterized as either a medium- to full-bodied, with red fruit characteristics. If you’ve never
tried Tempranillo before, you may find it has a similar taste profile to both Sangiovese and
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tempranillo Food Pairing: Tempranillo pairs well with all types of food because of its
savory qualities. Regional Spanish cuisine, which includes
roasted vegetables and cured meats, like the lusty Jamón
Iberico de Bellota creates an exceptional pairing. However,
the wine is diverse and not only pairs with local Spanish
food, but it also works well foods from all over the globe.
▸ Lasagna, pizza and dishes with tomato-based sauces
▸ Barbecue grilled-meats, smoky dishes
▸ Grits, polenta, and dishes with corn as a major ingredient
▸ Mexican food such as tacos, nachos, burritos, and chile
rellenos
"Wine is bottled poetry" - Robert Louis Stevenson
Crianza:
▸ Tasting Notes: Sour Cherry, Plum, Spicy Black Pepper and
Bay Leaf
▸ Average cost: $10–20 USD
▸ Regions: Rioja Crianza, Ribera del Duero Roble and
Crianza, Valdepeñas, Tinto de Toro, La Mancha, CastillaLeón,
Extremadura
▸ A juicy and spicy style of Tempranillo that typically receives
less than a year of aging. Because wines are not aged long,
they are spicy, fleshy and tart. Most value-driven
Tempranillo tastes this way and the most well-known
example of it is Rioja Crianza. In Central Spain, there are
sub-$10 wines which are ideal for traditional Spanish
Sangria
"Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, make the sage frolic, and the serious smile." - Homer
Reserva & Gran Reserva:
▸ Tasting Notes: Cherry, Dried Fig, Vanilla and Cedar
▸ Average cost: $25–35 USD
▸ Regions: Rioja Reserva, Ribera del Duero Reserva,
Toro Reserva, Aged Castilla-León
▸ Bold high tannin wines that embellish Tempranillo’s
best qualities that are aged for several years in oak
and bottle. The aging of Tempranillo softens the
variety’s spiciness and flavors become almost sweet
and dried. The extended cost of aging explains why
this style typically costs more. Keep your eyes peeled
for wines labeled with Reserva and Gran Reserva.
*** This year International Tempranillo Day is November 9th, 2017!!! ***
Welcome Wine: 2015 Estylo Puro Albarino ~ $18-19 @ Brookhaven Wines
12% alcohol, 100% Albarino
refreshing, tasted light, great beach wine.
1) 2015 Storyteller Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon - $ purchased @ the winery
13.5% alcohol, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
OOPS this isn't a Tempranillo, but we didn't know that when we tasted it blind.
tomato, dry, cedar note, mineral, chalkiness, "let's just move on"
2) 2008 Dehasa la Granja - $18.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
chocolate, perfumey nose, oaky, lighter, leather, velvet pepper finish, cherry, a lot more fruit, graphite,
3) 2012 Gomez Cruzado Haro Rioja Crianza - $20 @ H&F Bottleshop
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
sweeter nose, a lot of pepper, younger than the last one, lighter, clay, high tannin
4) 2010 Vina Alberdi Reserva ~ $20 @ Brookhaven Wines
13.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
leather, tobacco, cherry, pepper, I need this in a perfume, a study filled with books, acidic yet smooth, it has a really good feel in the mouth, velvety,
5) 2015 Campo Viejo Rioja - $12.99 @ Publix
15.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
different nose, smells of cassis, lots of pepper, star anise, licorice, the nose keeps disappearing, tobacco-y, no flavor, it's flat, non-descript, nothing about it finishes, it's a wedding wine - approachable, a stereotypical tempranillo, not amazing.
6) 2010 Gran Reserve Cune ~ $35 @ Total Wine
13.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
black cherry, smooth, mmm, bright red fruit, not as much tannin, apricot, spice @ finish, smooth, fuller taste, rounded, (if you said this was Sangiovese), pairs well with nachos, vanilla on the end, love it on the front but not on the finish, flat on the finish, one of my faves, orange rinds, a bit bitter.
7) 2006 Gran Reserva El Puntido - $40 @ CostCo Brookhaven
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
got grip, tomatoey, peppery, dark, old musty leaves under a rotting log, tomato sauce and plum, got some age, wise old grandmother
8) 2011 Muga Rioja - $35 @ Savvy Provisions
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
peppery, hot nose, very dry, sweet?, cherry bomb, luxardo, got grip, chewy, musty cherry vanilla,
9) 2014 Tinto Pesquera Crianza - $36.99 @ Brookhaven Wines
14.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
a smack in the face, serious pepper, urine odor, dry, tannic, grass, makes you pucker, I like the taste better than the smell, tart, dip-sticks candy, raisiny, port-thing going on, an olympic swimming pool of tannins, pairs with pepperoncini, green pepper, a pairing wine, needs food.
10) 2012 Ercavio Tempranillo Roble - $12.99 @ Jackie's Bottle Shop
14% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
orange rind on the nose, vanilla, chocolate, spicy, cinnamon chocolae, cocoa, cherry.
11) 2014 Tridente Tempranillo ~ $15.99
15.5% alcohol, 100% Tempranillo
wow, holy crap, dark mellow fruit, noms, interesting, chewy, got grip, raisins, fruit salad, sangria
Patatas Bravas, romesco sauce, jamon, quesos, olives, jamon stuffed rolls, banderillas veggie skewers
Scooby!!!
