2023 Plateau Red
DESCRIPTION
As red blends go, many wine consumers overlook the blends of the Iberian Peninsula, blends that encompass Tempranillo and Grenache, Carignane (Mazuelo) and Mourvedre (Monastrell) and much more in between. The rugged landscape of West Texas and that of Spain and Portugal share more than looks; sandy, high pH soils and unrestrained sunshine are indigenous to them all. The growing conditions and their influence on the ultimate wine quality can be seen in a glass of Plateau Red. These varieties seem to embrace the hard scrabble of the Panhandle and deliver grapes with depth and richly intense varietal character.
The Tempranillo makes up a large portion of the blend, but the other elements give lift and bring a lighter disposition to the otherwise dark and brooding Tempranillo. Grenache lays in a berry note, while the Carignane offers up a floral-berry exoticness. The Mourvedre came along with the Carignane at harvest, (a field blend) giving a nice juicy balance to the whole. This is a bright, fruit laden wine with velvety tannins and a very smooth finish, it's an easy drinking wine that will give you reason to think about Spain and Portugal differently, and certainly put the Texas High Plains into perspective.