Friday, May 2nd 2014 from 4 to 7 p.m. — $5/person…..Free for Grape Nuts — Join us Friday, May 2nd for one of Asheville’s best weekly wine tastings. This week, we’re going to dive deep into the world of Tempranillo, one of Spain’s most important grape varieties. It reaches its pinnacle of quality in the regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but the grape is making a name for itself in some other regions as well. One of the most interesting things about Tempranillo is that there are a number of different variations or clones of the vine/grape that have naturally mutated throughout the years to best suit the climate and conditions in which they are planted. From the more elegant and red fruited wines of Rioja to the darker and more structured versions from Ribera del Duero and California, there’s a Tempranillo to tempt every taster. Stop by any time between 4 and 7 to taste, learn, and save with us every Friday at Table Wine.
The Wines
Prices range from $14 to $22
All tasting wines are 10% off by the bottle or 15% off when you mix any six tasting wines!
1. 2013 Ostatu Rosado (Rioja, Spain)
This deliciously dry rosé is a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha from one of our favorite Rioja producers. Super dry, brisk and focused, it offers up gorgeous notes of tart strawberry, pomegranate and cherry followed by mellow spice and white florals.
2. 2011 Hazana Rioja “Tradicion” (Rioja, Spain)
Made by Miguel Angel Rodriguez, winemaker at Vinicola Real, this is an absurd value in high quality Rioja. A blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano from 20 to 40 year old vines, the wine sees 12 months of aging in French and American oak. The result is a medium bodied, fresh style of Rioja bursting with juicy red fruits, fresh flowers, Asian spices and musky herbs.
3. 2011 Bodegas Barco de Piedra Ribera del Duero (Ribera del Duero, Spain)
This is a sensational wine at a crazy-good price! It showcases the darker fruit and the fuller bodied character one finds in the Ribera del Duero region, and it does it at well under $20 a bottle! With ripe notes of cherry, blueberry, blackcurrant, flowers and licorice this medium/full red wine would love a nicely charred steak.
4. 2010 Matchbook Tempranillo (Dunnigan Hills, California)
We’re venturing outside of Temparnillo’s “comfort zone” on this one, and we think you’ll be very pleased by what you find. The Guigiere family have crafted a very “varietally correct” version of Tempranillo that reminds us of a wine from the Toro region of Spain. The addition of Tannat (10%) and Graciano (7%) has added more dark fruit and structure to this 90 point rated extreme value. Enjoy!
5. 2011 Ostatu Rioja Crianza (Rioja, Spain)
I know I said that Rioja typically produces lighter, more elegant, red fruited wines, but there are exceptions. Ostatu’s Crianza is almost entirely Tempranillo and it sees 12 months of aging in French oak. The palate is dense, rich and dark fruited with full bodied notes of dark berries, cacao, spices and toast. If you like Cabernet Sauvignon and other fuller bodied reds, this might just be your wine!