WINO 101

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to another fine, fine publication of the Carpe Vinum Friday Flights Newsletter! This week I thought I’d bring in a treat! It’s Tempranillo! It’s the grape that made Spain famous! Okay. . I suppose Spain was just as famous before the grape, however Tempranillo is the only Spanish grape variety that is considered one of the world’s “Noble” grapes. The grape’s popularity is soaring, and is quickly becoming the next big thing in the wine race. Some believe it to be the biggest rival to Sangiovese in the “next-big-thing” race, but to me it’s Tempranillo all the way.

So what is a Tempranillo? It’s the noble Spanish varietal that is most widely planted grape varietal in that country and made famous in the wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. When young, the wines from this grape are fresh and lively, well-balanced and easy-drinking with berryish or dried cherry qualities. It is a fairly hardy wine and some can be aged for years producing a velvety character often with leathery notes. Velvet and leather. . .sounds sexy, eh?

Tempranillo is, of course, most important in Spain. . .but just over to the left of Spain (West, if you like) in Portugal, where it is known as Tinto Roriz, it is important in table wines and in the fortified Porto. Currently there are newer plantings around the world, and it goes by many names: Aragonez, Arganda, Cencibel, Chinchillana, Escobera, Garnacho, Foño, Jaciuera, Negra de Mesa, Tinta Santiago, Tinta Montereiro, Tinto Fino, Tinto País, Tinto Riojano, Tinto de Toro, Tinto de Madrid, Ull de Llebre, Valdepeñas, Verdiell and Vid de Aranda.

Besides Spain and Portugal, it is a bit difficult to track down the elusive Tempranillo. There are producers in Argentina and Australia that are producing a number of very good Tempranillo wines, but just a few in the US. I found one from the Oregon winery Abacela, and one Californian wine from Viader Vineyards. Apparently there is a little planted in Washington and a very short run is made by Cayuse, and a little by K Vintners. So this Tempranillo tasting does lean pretty heavily on the Spanish side. . .not that it’s ever a bad thing. But I did find a number of non-Spanish Tempranillo with which to compare.

So Friday, January 20th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Tempranillo!!
Abacela 2002 Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley, Oregon
Bodegas Miguel Calatayud 1999 Vegaval Plata Reserva, Valdepenas, Spain
El Quintanal 2004 Ribera del Duero, Spain
Mil Piedras 2003 Tempranillo, Mendoza, Argentina
Cortes de Cima 2003 Chamine, Alentejano, Portugal

More Tempranillo!!
Famillia Zuccardi 2003 Q Tempranillo, Mendoza, Argentina
Alejandro Fernandez 2002 El Vinculo, La Mancha, Spain

Fancy-Schmancy-A-Bit-More-Expensive-Pour!
Viader Vineyards 2003 DARE Tempranillo, Napa Valley, California

Next Friday tasting is Washington Reds!