2023 Tempranillo
DESCRIPTION
Tempranillo is known by many names on the Iberian Peninsula: Valdepeñas, Cencibel, Tinta Roriz, or Aragonez. It is typically the mainstay of Rioja, and truly, it is better known as the Cabernet Sauvignon of Spain. Thicker skinned and generous, large clusters with a loose structure, make it well suited for areas that might see summer rains; the open cluster makes it less prone to potential rot problems. Spanish conquistadors certainly did not plant Tempranillo when they passed through the Llano Estacado, but Tempranillo has been embraced by many growers and producers in West Texas as a variety that does well in the High Plains' climate and soils, and it is quickly becoming the "grape" of choice in Texas.
Our 2023 was fermented on the skins for approximately 18 days, producing a wine with great tannic extract and a deep, beautiful color. The wine was aged in 3rd use French oak barrels and a small percentage of new American oak barrels for 14 months. The barrel aging produced warm and inviting notes of clove, cedar and vanilla scents; the plummy, berry aromas have a leathery, blackberry quality, with fine dried herbs laced throughout the bouquet. The wine's flavors are layered and inviting, while the silky texture of the finish is supple in length. It is hard not to think of this as a Rioja, its rich fragrance conjuring images of distant Spanish plains.