If after watching Sidewaysyou discovered Pinot Noir to be one of your favorite wines, but found the grape to be too draining on your wallet, there is an alternative: Tempranillo.
Indigenous to Spain, Tempranillo’s flavor profile and structure is very similar to Pinot Noir — soft cherry and red berry fruit, medium acidity and tannins, a touch of earth and spice, and an overall elegant, polished character. Also like Pinot Noir, there is a wide range of quality, generally dependent on the price point (in other words, you’ll get what you pay for). Unlike Pinot Noir, however, you can get good-quality Tempranillo that reflects its origins at nearly every price point — even under ten bucks. Whereas Pinot Noir is fragile, and can be difficult to grow in certain conditions, Tempranillo flourishes year in and year out in Spain, and as a result its production is fairly consistent. This consistency and abundance allows for a wider range of quality.
In particular, there are many good, dependable Tempranillo wines in the $12-$20 range — a place where Pinot Noirs tend to be hit-or-miss. One example of a solid $15 Tempranillo is this wine, made by Venta Mazzaron.
A bright, very ripe, wide open nose of black and red berry fruits, spice, licorice, earth, and tar introduce your senses to its vibrant and complex character. In the mouth there is a lot of juicy, jammy, ripe black and red berry fruits upfront — carried by a very soft, velvety plush texture. Good acidity and medium tannins follow in the midpalate to balance off the fruit. Hints of earth, spice, black licorice, anise, and sweet tobacco may be noticed at this point and through the finish. Venta Mazzaron is soft enough to enjoy with gamey fish or peppered poultry, and yet bold enough to drink with a burger. For me, it was very nice with chicken fajitas. Its jamminess may appeal to the Aussie Shiraz crowd, but still has plenty of balance and structure to pair with food. Another good value from the always reliable Jorge Ordonez Selections.
a-8 t-8 b-8 fc-9 v-7 ~ 90 Points
Importer: Tempranillo, Inc. / Jorge Ordonez Selections
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