Over here in Sydney, we’re getting ready to turn our clocks back an hour, pull out our coats and bunker down for the winter.
Granted, the coats are more just jackets and by ‘bunkering down’ I really mean not eating lunch in the park with your sunnies on. Be that as it may, the Starks are right. Winter is coming.
The best part about this is we can start cracking those bottles of sumptuous reds we’ve been eyeing up as we’ve sweated our way through the summer. But let’s not be too hasty.
Going from crisp savoury rieslings and dry sharp rosés straight into tar pit depths of a shiraz would be madness. Last month we looked at the sprightly pinot noir so you can see we’re taking our time with this one.
This month (thanks to Sonia of Scribe + Social fame) we’re scratching the surface of the tempranillo grape.
Neither Christina nor I have had much experience with this little fellow – in fact until recently, I thought you pronounced the ‘ll’ in tempranillo. Idiot! It’s “tempraniyo” by the way 🙂
Because I’ve got no clue whatsoever about this variety, the same way Chairman Kaga does in Iron Chef, I will now defer to a higher being.
Saint Andrew of our Wine Saints lived in Spain for many years whilst on his worldly wine mission. His love of the Catalan region has brought him closer to the Tempranillo wine god than our other revered saints – St Peter and St Paul.
Therefore, I bring you the grapey preachings of St Andrew:
St Andrew
“Tempranillo is the autochthonous [good word! – Ed.] grape variety at the noble heart of all great Spanish red wine, the most famous of which comes from the tiny La Rioja region in northern Spain.
Rioja is beautiful, approachable and seductive wine that deserves your attention, preferably in the company of jamon iberico, mature Manchego cheese and/or roast or barbecued lamb.
It is, quite simply, de puta madre!
The Rioja spectrum extends from young, unoaked Cosecha wines and Crianza, (1 year in oak, 1 year bottle-aged before release), to Reserva (3 years oak, 1 year bottled) and Gran Reserva (2 years in oak, 3 years bottled). These classifications are stated on the label.
A few good Cosecha and Crianza examples are available at bargain prices, though I recommend paying that little extra for a Reserva of 7 years of age or more for a taste of the real deal.
Salud!”
St Andrew’s recommendations:
Under $20
Cosme Palacio Cosecha – medium bodied, fruit-driven
Marques de Caceres Crianza – alluring ruby red, smooth yet spicy
$25 – $30
El Coto Crianza – supple, beautifully balanced, moreish
Marques de Murrieta Reserva – Complex, leathery. Seriously good value.
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva $65.00 – Dios mio! Quintessential old school Rioja. Concentrated and profound.
Thanks to St Andrew, Christina and I tried the Marques de Caceres Crianza. I’ve got to say, Andrew’s summary was absolutely right.
What’s your favourite drop of tempranillo? Do you have a preferred rioja? Tell us what to drink in the comments!
Sonia from Sonia Styling
Hey thanks for the mention! Our fave Tempraneeeeeeyyyyyyyo is from the good old Barossa and it’s by a winery called Tscharke (https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_326467/tscharke-only-son-tempranillo). Tscharke do some amazing wines and their Tempranillo is top knotch.
Mr Romance
Hey Sonia! Couldn’t talk about Tempranillo and not mention you! Thanks for the wine tip – will keep an eye out and give it a go!
Cheers, big ears!
Jx
Sophie
I had a little drop of this beauty last night:
http://vip.chapelhillwine.com.au/products/2652-il-vescovo-tempranillo
Beautiful – and like you say a great transitional wine before it hits Shiraz time 😉
Mr Romance
Ooh! Thanks Sophie! Will give it a go!
Cheers – and here’s to Shiraz time when it finally gets here!
Jx
Our Instagram Diary – AHFA glamour, cocktails and wine
[…] week’s Friday Drinks is the first of the month, which means it’s Wine of the Month. This time we’ve looked into the benefits of Tempranillo – a Spanish grape used […]
Bele
All riojas are good riojas. Well, I haven’t met one I didn’t get on with x
Mr Romance
You know what, Bele, I think you might be onto something there. Roija is such a good drop, isn’t it?
Jx