Why we're drinking tempranillo today

Romántica Crianza Tinto FIno 2020

Tasting: Deliciousness in a bottle from Bardos. Winemaker Raúl Acha makes wine in this inhospitable part of the Duero Valley because as he states “To make daring wines, one must be surrounded by daring people”. Medium bodied, rich dark fruit, black plum, cassis, and cedar with tobacco and fresh leather.

Bodega: Bardos

Region: Ribera del Duero

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinto Fino)

Aging: 14 months in French oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Vendimia Seleccionada 2019

Tasting: Rioja of great typicity, and outstanding value. Silky and plush texture reveals beautifully expressive blueberry fruit, supple hedgerow berries and well balanced vanillan oak.

Bodega: Bodegas y Viñedos Zuazo Gastón

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo, Mazuelo

Aging: 6 months in American oak

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 13%

Closure: Cork

Solaz Bio Tempranillo 2020

Tasting: Intense red berry fruit with fruits of the forest notes in support. Organically grown, made, and certified.

Bodega: Bodegas Osborne

Region: V.T. de Castilla

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: Stainless steel

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Ramón Bilbao Crianza 2019

Tasting: Medium bodied, a nose of vanilla, red and black fruits leading to a palate of beautifully balanced oak, acidity and fruit, blackberries, cassis, coconut, graphite and bay leaf

Bodega: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao

Region: D.O.Ca

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 14 months in American oak followed by 12 months in bottle

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Screw cap

Baluarte Roble Tempranillo 2019

Tasting: Aromas of strawberry blossom, with a palate of red berry fruits, and toasted cedar.

Bodega: Bodegas Chivite

Region: D.O. Navarra

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 3 months in American oak

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 13%

Closure: Screw cap

Ramírez de la Piscina Crianza 2019

Tasting:  Medium bodied, this is an attractive wine that has been barrel-aged, and combines both youthful and mature characteristics. Cherry-red in colour with violet notes. On the nose there is a good balance between ripe fruit and quality wood. This balance is also present on the palate where wood, alcohol and tannin combine with spicy vanilla resulting from a touch of delicate oak. A long finish with a pronounced concentration.

Bodega: Ramírez de la Piscina

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: French and American oak barrels for 16 months, then in bottle for another 12 months

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Ibai Alde Crianza 2019

Tasting: Classic crianza Rioja, bright and brash red fruit led by strawberries and red-currants, concentrated red plum and cedar spice.

Bodega: Bodegas Ramírez de la Piscina

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 15 months in French and American Oak, followed by 8 months in bottle

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Arnegui Reserva 2017

Tasting: Excellent value reserva Rioja, spiced blackberries and vanilla aromas support a palate of rich, concentrated plum fruit, woody spices and very present vanilla and coconut.

Bodega: Pagos del Rey

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 18 months in American oak, followed by 18 months in bottle

Vintage: 2017

Closure: Cork

Hacienda López de Haro Gran Reserva 2014

Tasting: Elegant, complex and refined, lashings of dried mature blackcurrant and bramble fruit with delicate spices, cassia bark, star anise and angelica. Although a very classic oak driven Gran Reserva, it is well balanced, with exceptionally plush texture and balance.  

Bodega: Bodega Classica

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo, Graciano

Aging: 30 months in French and American oak, followed by 36 months in bottle

Vintage: 2014

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Massimo 2022

Tasting: Comprising of almost all Mencía with just a dash of Tempranillo and Sousón, this expressive, light bodied wine captures the very essence of Ribeira Sacra, grown on slopes above the River Sil so vertiginous they can only be worked by hand. Flavours of blueberries, blackcurrants, and herbs with fresh, lifted acidity.

Bodega: Viña D’Mateo

Region: D.O. Ribeira Sacra

Grape: Mencía, Tempranillo, Sousón

Aging: Stainless steel on lees

Vintage: 2022

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Ramón Bilbao Gran Reserva 2014

Tasting: Everything you’d expect from classic Gran Reserva Rioja, aromatic and complex with a palate of blackberries, redcurrant, cherries, nutmeg and vanilla.

Bodega: Bodegas Ramón Bilbao

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo

Aging: 30 months in American oak, followed by 36 months in bottle

Vintage: 2014

Alcohol: 14% 

Closure: Cork

El Primer Beso Tinto Fino 2022

Tasting: The outstanding wines of Alejandro Moyano are as poetic to drink as the labels and their names would suggest. An award-winning winery, self-sufficient and completely off the electricity and water supplies vinifies the organically grown Tinto Fino – the local name for Tempranillo – with the minimum of handling. El Primer Beso – The First Kiss – is certified organic, medium bodied with oodles of soft, ripe, morello cherry fruit, raspberry, and lovely underlying graphite minerality.

Bodega: Bodegas y Viñedos Valdemonjas

Region: D.O. Ribera del Duero

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinto Fino)

Aging: 6 months in cement tanks

Vintage: 2022

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

La Viña de Amaya 2020

Tasting: On the nose, it offers an enticing bouquet of ripe red berries, including cherries and raspberries, intertwined with subtle hints of vanilla and oak. The palate is velvety and smooth, showcasing flavors of plum and blackcurrant, complemented by a well-balanced acidity and supple tannins.

Bodega: Rodriguez Sanzo

Region: D.O. Toro

Grape: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo), Garnacha

Aging: 6 to 12 months in oak barrels

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Damalisco Tempranillo Roble 2021 

Tasting: Exceptional Tempranillo blend! You get the structure of the Tempranillo, followed by the brightness of the Garnacha. Medium bodied and creamy. Red and black fruit. Smooth long finish. 

Bodega: Rodriguez Sanzo

Region: D.O. Toro

Grape: Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), Garnacha

Aging: New French oak

Vintage: 2021

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Cork

Canicas Tempranillo 2020

Tasting: Ripe red fruits like cherry and raspberry dominate the aroma, complemented by hints of blackberries, dried herbs, and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, it offers a harmonious blend of juicy fruit flavors, well-integrated tannins, and refreshing acidity, with subtle notes of baking spices and cocoa. Well-crafted Tempranillo. Jammy, balanced and structured.

Bodega: Esteban Celemín Viticultor

Region: Castilla y León

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: 12 months in French oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 15%

Closure: Cork

Arnegui Joven Tempranillo 2022

Tasting: Fresh and elegant young Rioja. Flavours of red and black cherry with sweet vanilla spice. Certified Vegan friendly.

Bodega: Pagos del Rey

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: Stainless steel

Vintage: 2022

Alcohol: 14%

El Ilusionista Joven Tinto Fino 2020

Tasting: Fresh, young and full of life! Un-oaked Tempranillo bursting with crunchy red fruit, brash and breezy tannin with trademark firm acidity.  

Bodega: HGA Bodegas

Region: D.O. Ribera del Duero

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinto Fino)

Aging: Stainless steel

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Bhilar Berria 2020

Tasting: David Sampredo-Gil’s Bodegas Bhilar has slowly become one of the most respected small wineries in Rioja. His vineyards are bursting with life due to the biodiversity he encourages using organic and biodynamic farming. Based in the subregion of Alavesa around the town of Elvillar (Bhilar is the Basque word for Elvillar), he makes an array of exceptional wine that stun his fans year after year. Produced using a technique called ‘Carbonic Maceration’ which helps produce, light, fruit driven wines, the Berria, is packed full of juicy, vibrant red and purple fruit, it explodes across the palate, fresh and aromatic, this is super interesting wine!

Bodega: Bodegas Bhilar

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo, Viura

Aging: 2020

Alcohol 11%

Closure: Cork

Clea Crianza Tinto Fino 2018

Tasting: Intense dark fruit aromas, liquorice and tobacco. Silky soft and elegant on the palate with a nice balance of acidity and supple tannins. 

Bodega: Bardos

Region: D.O. Ribera del Duero

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinto Fino)

Aging: 14 months in new French oak.

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol 14%

Closure: Cork

El Primer Paso 2020

Tasting: Tinta de Toro, although Tempranillo, is generally considered a DNA variant of Tempranillo, it has smaller berries and ticker skins so makes much bigger wines than Tempranillo in the Duero valley generally does. Made by Frenchman Antony Terryn, who has a stunning array of old vine plantings in Toro. Powerful, spicy, earthy black fruit, cassis, mulberries and scrub herbs with amazingly soft polished tannins.

Bodega: Dominio del Bendito

Region: D.O. Toro

Grape: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)

Aging: 6 months in French and American oak

Vintage: 2020

Alcohol: 15%

Closure: Cork

Palacio del Camino Real 2019

Tasting: Fresh, elegant, round and easy drinking. This wine is a nod to the freshness and fruitiness of the highest areas of Rioja and classic joven wines. On the palate it is a fine and delicate wine, with soft and light tannin that makes it easy to drink, with oodles of red berry fruit.

Bodega: Bodega Classica

Region: D.O.Ca Rioja

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: Stainless steel

Vintage: 2019

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Vega Demara Tempranillo 2018

Tasting: Medium bodied with cherries and violets on the nose, revealing a palate of intense red berry fruit.

Bodega: Vega Demara

Region: D.O. La Mancha

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: Stainless steel

Vintage: 2018

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Screw cap

Solaz Bio Tempranillo 2018

Tasting: Elegant and well-balanced, with notes of red and black fruits and spices. On the palate it displays notes of ripe fruit and black chocolate. Smooth, rounded tannins with a long, persistent finish

Bodega: Bodegas Osborne

Region: V.T. de Castilla

Grape: Tempranillo

Aging: Stainless steel

Vintage: 2018

Alcohol: 13%

Closure: Cork

Protos Gran Reserva 2015

Tasting: Bodegas Protos were founded in 1927, they were instrumental in the foundation of the the Ribera del Duero appellation, their wines speak of the very essence of traditional winemaking in the region. Expressive and extremely complex, cocoa, red berry fruits and tobacco aromas complement a rich palate of concentrated, muscular raspberry fruit, with cedar, spice and fresh leather. Powerful wine built to age, 2011 is in a beautiful drinking window currently

Bodega: Bodegas Protos

Region: D.O. Ribera del Duero

Grape: Tempranillo (Tinto Fino)

Aging: 24 months in French and American oak, followed by 36 months in bottle

Vintage: 2015

Alcohol: 13.5%

Closure: Cork