Product Review
Bursting with dense flavors of black cherries and dark chocolate, this big bold wine, despite its high alcohol, keeps itself in proper proportion. Notes of warm spices add interest, and the grainy textured tannins contribute further length. It was barrel aged for two years in 40% new French oak.
Coined by Jancis Robinson as "Spain’s answer to Cabernet Sauvignon," its style varies significantly depending on terroir and the wine-making techniques used. Cooler regions and stainless steel fermentation tend to produce Tempranillos with fresh strawberry and cherry like fruit, similar in body to Pinot Noir. Examples from hotter, more arid regions that undergo extended oak aging often produce richer, plumper, jammier wines, typically exhibiting chocolate, tobacco, and leather notes. Tempranillo provides the backbone of the highly regarded wines of Rioja, Toro and Ribera del Duero. In Rioja particularly, it is typically blended with Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano. In La Mancha and Navarra, it is commonly blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to produce inexpensive, great-value wines. One of the few places Tempranillo has spread to is Spain’s neighbour, Portugal. Grown mainly in the Douro valley since the mid 19th century, where they call it Tinta Roriz, it is used as one of the key blending agents in port. Lately it has been used in the region's intensely rich, dry, table wines.
Oregon is without a doubt establishing a reputation for producing to some of America’s finest wines, made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Riesling. The Willamette Valley is the largest and most well known AVA. The Dundee and Eola hills, as well as Ribbon ridge are three of its most promising sub-regions.
Red wine is wine made from dark-coloured grape varieties. The color of red differs based on the grapes variety or varieties used.Interestingly, black grapes yield a juice that is greenish-white. The actual red color comes from anthocyan pigments (also called anthocyanins) from the skin of the grape (exceptions are the relatively uncommon teinturier varieties, which produce a red colored juice). Most of the production centers around the extraction of color and flavor from the grape skin.
