Tempranillo

Honestly, have you ever had your socks blown off by a Tempranillo? - Me neither. Below is an assessment of a few Spanish ones currently available in Australia, with an Australian one thrown in.

The 2010 Artadi Rioja Alvesa is not unattractive. This medium bodied wine is fresh and vibrant. It tastes of black cherry and has balanced acidity on the finish (90 points).

The 2011 Mt. Majura Tempranillo from the Canberra area has a flatter mouthfeel and is quite simple. There are earthy flavours and the acidity is quite noticable (87 points).

The 2009 Pesquera Tinto from Ribera del Duero is quite different. This wine is based on old vines, and it exhibits a rich and rustic feel. There are earthy characters and fine tannins leading to a long finish (90 points).

The 2009 Cillar de Silos Estate Tempranillo, also from Ribera del Duero, is more modern. The wine is elegant and fairly light, but has good length on the palate (89 points).