Inexpensive Tempranillo is something I rarely get excited about. Protocolo Tinto is one of the few exceptions, and the current release scored 90 points with Jeb Dunnuck!
Family-owned, organically farmed, made from old vines, and totally delicious, this remains one of the greatest everyday red wine values in the Milky Way.
This was a wine Lynn and I drank a lot when we first moved to Asheville back in 2003. Back then, we didn't have much money, and Protocolo sold for about $5, but it delivered a lot of pleasure for the price. We were feeling nostalgic a couple of weeks ago and decided to see if we liked it as much now as we did then. I'm happy to report we did. If anything, it overdelivers even more today.
Bursting with ripe plum, black cherry, toasted spice, mocha, and dried flowers, it's smooth, medium-bodied, and loaded with the kind of character you rarely find in a wine at this price. Dunnuck described it as "built to be approachable upon release, finessed, fluid, and full of enduring freshness." He's right!
Finding honest, well-made wines like Protocolo at this price isn't easy. We taste plenty of forgettable bottles so you don't have to, and this is one we'll happily keep drinking ourselves.
Pick up a solid six-pack and see why Protocolo has remained one of our favorite everyday reds for more than two decades.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
