The Good Wine Guru » Tempranillo

Big House Red 2010

George — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:00:51 +0000

Varietal: Petite Sirah; Tempranillo; Syrah; Grenache; Malbec; Mourvedre; Nebeillo; Tannat; Souzao; Aglianico; Barbera; Zinfandel; Petite Verdot; Cabernet Franc; Charbano; Nero d’Avola; Sanviovese; Sagrantino
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: This Big House Red lives up to that old Fruit Bomb moniker that you’ve come to expect. It starts with a nose full of blackberries and raspberries, with hints of leather and spices. The palate is clean, exhibiting flavors of cranberries, roses, and a touch of rhubarb. This finish lingers, with flavors of vanilla and a touch of dark cherries in the finish. Pairs well with all grilled meats, lasagna Bolognese, grilled vegetables, or even sashimi grade Ahi tuna.

My Review: The previous version of this wine was one of those that I was torn on. I liked what they were trying to do by creating a table wine with a little bit of everything that could then go with a little bit of everything, but I felt that the attempt created a wine that just fell flat. This vintage was different.

Now, to preface, I’m not saying that the 2010 Big House Red is some revolutionary wine, but I did like it better than the previous years bottles I had tried. They’ve changed the mixture some and I think it’s for the best. On the nose I got mostly raspberry with a touch of spice and in the mouth I got dark cherry and some cranberry with a juiciness that made me feel like the Zinfandel as much as anything was coming through.

With a dinner of pizza after a trip the grocery store to stock up after the Thanksgiving holiday, a simple bottle of inexpensive red was a welcome sight and I continue to be a proponent of what Big House is doing – making nice affordable wines that might not set the world on fire, but are certainly welcome after a long day at work.

Montecillo Rioja Crianza 2007

George — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:00:28 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja – Spain
Cost: $13

Winemaker’s Notes: Garnet red color with intense fruit aromas that pairs well with any meat dish.

My Review: I enjoyed the 2003 Montecillo Rioja Reserva so much that I didn’t want to wait too long before opening up this bottle. I’m glad I didn’t.

Since it was an absolutely gorgeous Monday here in Richmond, Virginia, my wife and I decided to grill out on the deck and enjoy the weather and some wine. I stopped by a local shop on my way home and picked up a New York Strip Steak and a Lobster tail – that’s right, we went surf n’ turf for dinner. The steak and lobster grilled, some risotto with parmesan cheese whipped up to go with it, and the bottle of wine opened and we were ready for dinner.

The wine was a nice dark garnet color in the glass – not as dark as the 2003 Reserva, but certainly not light by any stretch of the imagination. The aromas of fruit, noticeably plum and berry lead nicely into a wine that balanced good flavors of cherry and plum with a hint of cedar on the finish. Again, not as woody as the 2003, and in a blind tasting I think it would be easy to pick which wine was older, but not a wine that anybody would call fruity by any stretch.

Paired with the steak, lobster, and risotto, it was very enjoyable, and probably a better pairing than the Reserva would have been given the lobster’s more delicate nature. Even after the food was gone it was nice to sip on, with just enough fruit on the palate to make sure you didn’t have to demand food with it.

Of the two Montecillo wines I’ve had in the recent weeks, I’d have to say that the 2003 Reserva was my favorite. However, that is in no ways a condemnation of the 2007, and I would still recommend it, especially if you prefer a wine with a bit more fruit on it. If you can’t find the wine at your local store, you can follow this link and have some shipped to you directly.

Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2003

George — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:00:04 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja – Spain
Cost: $18

Winemaker’s Notes: A deep red in color with bright flavors of ripe berries and oak that will pair with duck, any red meats, and roasted vegetables.

My Review: A few weeks ago a pair of bottles showed up to my office. Whereas most samples I get have at least some tasting notes, if not a letter from the winemaker/vineyard owner/head of marketing letting me know something about the wine that might not be in the tasting notes, the two bottles of Montecillo (one the 2003 Reserva, another to be reviewed later), had nothing. In fact I took a moment to look over the shipping label to make sure that they were in fact intended for me.

Knowing what I know now, I would have at least kept the 2003 Reserva anyways.

The 2003 Montecillo Rioja Reserva was a lovely dark red in the glass, with subtle and smooth aromas of berry and spice on the nose. In the mouth, bright berries were quickly tempered with a smooth oak finish that lent body to the wine and made it a great pairing for what may have been the most perfect steak I have ever cooked. I’m just saying.

I think it’s fair to say that over my last few years of writing this site I’ve made no secret of my continuing fondness for Spanish wines, and the 2003 Montecillo Rioja Reserva is just another example of why I enjoy them so much. If you’re looking for something to pair with your next steak dinner, I definitely recommend this wine both because of it being a good pairing, and for it being a good price. If you can’t find the wine near you, follow this link and have it shipped directly to you.

Campo Viejo Reserva 2006

George — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:00:53 +0000

Varietal: Rioja (85% Tempranillo; 10% Graciano; 5% Mazuelo)
Region: Spain – Rioja
Cost: $14 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Wild cherry, pepper, and oak aromas with soft tannins that pair well with beef, lamb, grilled foods, and strong cheeses.

My Review: Anybody that’s been reading this site long enough knows that I’m a fan of Tempranillo and blends using it. Rioja was my first real introduction into Spanish wine, and I tend to hold a soft spot in my heart for the region because of that…also because they make good wines.

I’d received this bottle around the Super Bowl, and honestly it would have been a good bottle to open up with some meatballs or a good cheese platter had such a thing materialized, but with that game being shown in my house to a total of four people, my wife and I just couldn’t muster the energy to put out a big spread that didn’t involve some quickly made wings and beer.

However, last night we did open the bottle, though there were some hiccups along the way. Since one of the recommended pairings was grilled foods, and because I have a distinct lack of beef and lamb in my house at the moment, we decided to throw some herbs on some chicken and then throw said chickens on the grill. However, my grill was being tempramental and decided it didn’t really want to heat…so the chicken ended up going into the oven.

The wine itself was a medium-dark red color with just a hint of rust color that was really only visible when the wine was swirled in the glass. The aromas of cherry, pepper, and oak were very noticeable, as was a little smoke. In the mouth, the cherry flavors carried over in what could only be described as a bright wine. A hint of smoke on the finish, along with some nice soft tannins, would have made this a great wine to pair with any grilled meat coming off my grill. That being said, it was still more than enjoyable with the chicken out of the oven.

What I liked about this wine so much was that the bright flavors made it perfect for just enjoying by itself, but also lent it a versatility to be paired with a good range of foods. If you come across this bottle and are looking to try some Spanish wine, I would definitely recommend giving it a try, and if you can’t find it in your local store, you can just follow this link and have it sent right to you.

Lucky Duck Tempranillo

George — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:00:58 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $4

Dark garnet in color with aromas of berry and dark cherry. On the palate, dark cherry, spice, and bittersweet chocolate. Pairs well with grilled lamb, olives, and rich cheeses.

Recommendations: So I don’t remember where or when, but somewhere, on some blog or website, I had read about the Lucky Duck line of wines. Unfortunately I don’t remember what that blog/article/website said. So, when I came across the wines at my local Wal-Mart while poking around after buying new glasses (the eye kind, not the drinking kind), I knew that I was familiar with the wine’s name, but not much else. However, since I’m always looking for something new to try, I grabbed some.

The wine itself was a dark garnet color in the glass, and the aromas of dark cherry were pretty in your face. That cherry and some berry carried into the palate in what was a very bright, fruit forward wine, but also very clearly a Tempranillo. With a dinner of beef stew that the wife had been cooking all day it was a nice bright note against the heartiness of the meal.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that this is an amazing Tempranillo and that you simply must buy it. However, at $4 a bottle, it’s a noticeable step up from the usual cheap cabernet/shiraz/merlot table wines you usually find at your big box stores, with a selection that included a Malbec as well (that I will be reviewing at a later date). Is this wine even in my top 30 all time-time Tempranillos? No, of course not. Would I buy it again as an inexpensive wine to keep around as a slightly above average table wine? Sure.

If you’re looking for a quality Tempranillo that really shows off all that the grape has to offer, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a cheap bottle of wine that’s different than the usual varietals you see on the shelves, than you should absolutely give this one a whirl. I mean, what do you really have to lose beyond the four bucks?

Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo Cabernet 2009

George — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:00:18 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo (60%); Cabernet Sauvignon (40%)
Region: Spain
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Fruit aromas with flavors of raspberry, cherry, plum, and blackberry. Pairs well with grilled eggplant, grilled skirt steaks, vegetarian chili, pork, and tapas.

Recommendations: Last month I did a review of the 2009 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo Shiraz, and while I enjoyed it, if push came to shove and I had to choose between the Shiraz blend and the Cabernet blend…I’d have to go with the Cabernet blend. The aromas of the wine were of berry, and based on the nose I was expecting a fairly fruit forward wine, but that’s not what I got.

Sure, there were flavors of berry, but there were also hints of chocolate and a smoothness to the wine that I found incredibly enjoyable. Paired with a dinner of pork tenderloin and risotto, this wine was a perfect compliment, and quite honestly was great just by itself. This may actually be one of the best value wines I’ve had in a while, and I definitely recommend trying it out if you come across a bottle of it.

While both Tempra Tantrum wines were good, my wife and I both agreed that the Tempranillo/Cabernet blend was our favorite and the one that we could see ourselves grabbing a case of to just have around the house for whatever. This is a great party wine as the flavors will fit with a range of foods and a range of palates. I absolutely say try out a bottle, and if you can’t find it near you at a store, you can find it online by going here. Give it a try and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Shiraz 2009

George — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:00:34 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo (60%); Shiraz (40%)
Region: Spain
Cost: $11.99 (SRP)

Aromas of spice and cherry, with flavors of dark cherry, chocolate, blackberry, plum, and earthiness. Pairs well with hearty meals such as Texas pork ribs, lasagna Florentine, tapas, lamb, and Spanish chorizo.

Recommendations: My wife liked this bottle just because the label was orange, her favorite color. I was intrigued when I got this sample some weeks ago as I enjoy both Tempranillo and Shiraz, but hadn’t really experimented with them blended. Finally, this past weekend while having a friend over for dinner, I decided to give it a try.

The wine was nice and dark in the glass and featured aromas of cherry and a bit of spice and earth. On the palate I got black cherry and a nice smooth finish that was oh so welcome. While I didn’t pair the wine with a Spanish dish, I did have it with a nice nice hearty beef stew that my wife had been slowly making in the crock pot all day.

The flavors of the wine were a nice compliment to the stew, but I could definitely see enjoying this with a plate of Spanish themed tapas out on the deck. In fact, I would highly recommend trying it just like that. Overall it was a nice enjoyable wine that I could definitely see picking up a few bottles of to open during a party with light tapas style food out. If you can’t a bottle of the 2009 Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Shiraz at your store, you can find it (and other blends) at this site. Give it a try the next time you’re cooking Spanish and I think you’ll enjoy it.

Sangre de Toro 2007

George — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:00:20 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain
Cost: $10.50

Deep color with aromas of earth, fruit, and spice. On the palate, raspberry, earthiness, and herbs. Pairs well with grilled meat and traditional Spanish dishes.

Recommendations: I’d be lying if I said I picked up this wine for any other reason than because I was in the mood for something Spanish and my wife was amused by the plastic bull attached to the bottle. That being said, I’d probably give this wine another go. After a long week, this bottle followed up dinner as my wife and I relaxed and watched some TV.

The aromas of fruit and spice were nice, though I didn’t really get any earth on the nose. In the mouth the medium-bodied wine was easy to enjoy by itself, and flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and other crushed fruit sprang to the forefront.

While we didn’t pair the wine with any food, I’d be interested to try it with some type of skirt or flank steak done in a Spanish style. I think the smoothness of the wine would be a nice pairing to any bold spices without being overpowered by them.

While this wasn’t a life altering wine, it’s one that I’d certainly keep in mind when I’m looking for a Spanish wine to trust, and for the price it’s at least worth picking up for the silly little plastic bull on the bottle.

Octavin DC Tasting

George — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:00:00 +0000

So last night I was fortunate enough to attend a tasting of the Octavin Home Wine Bars in Washington DC. While I have sampled a few of them before, I was able to taste the whole range of wines that they’re offering in this new packaging. The event was hosted by Cork’d and we were able to meet the wine maker of the Big House Red and White – Georgetta Dane.

The first wine I tasted was the Monthaven Chardonnay. I’d had this one before and it was exactly as I remembered – a touch of oakiness on the finish, but a fairly straight forward California Chardonnay that will pair well with chicken and pasta with cream sauce. Next up was the other white I had already sampled, the Silver Birch Sauvignon Blanc. It doesn’t feature as much grapefruit as a Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, but it’s still crisp and refreshing with good citrus flavors and is great for hot summer days.

Next up was the first wine I hadn’t tried before – the Big House White. A blend of Malvasia Bianca (51%), Muscat Canelli (14%), Viognier (13%), Gruner Veltliner (10%), Pinot Gris (5%), and Riesling (4%) the wine showed the Viognier on the nose with a very floral aroma. Tropical fruits on the palate made it a refreshing wine and one that would definitely pair well with seafood.

Moving over to the reds we started with the Big House Red (which I’m not going to list all the varietals in…there are just too many. You can check out my previous post on it here). A good table wine that would be perfect for a quick glass after a long day of work and for blending in with pasta sauces while cooking, none of the varietals really stand out, making it seem to have a single note, but it’s still a good table wine.

Next up was the one that I was probably looking forward to the most, the Seven. A blended Spanish wine of Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), Merlot (25%), Syrah (18%), Petit Verdot (8%), Tempranillo (8%), Grenache (8%), and Graciano (8%), there was a nice berry flavor with good tannins and a robustness that I found enjoyable and certainly made me want to pair it with some grilled red meat.

Finally was the Boho Old Vine Zinfandel. Jammy is the best way to describe this wine, and it lacked the usual spice and pepper that I associated with Zinfandel. That being said, this is a BBQ wine through and through. If you’re making ribs for a summer cook-out, this is a good go-to wine.

All in all I had a great evening, the wines were all enjoyable, the location was spectacular, and the staff was incredibly helpful. I want to thank Cork’d for hosting the event, and Lima Restaurant and Lounge for your amazing service.

Octavin Home Wine Bar

Campo Viejo Crianza Tempranillo 2006

George — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:00:37 +0000

Varietal: Tempranillo
Region: Spain – Rioja
Cost: $10

Vanilla and cherry on the nose with crushed fruit on the palate. Pairs well with roasted chicken and grilled meats.

Recommendations: I’m a big fan of Spanish wine, Tempranillo in particular, so I was looking forward to this wine when it showed up at my office. My wife and I took the bottle with us when we headed up to visit our parents in Northern Virginia for the Father’s Day weekend, knowing that we would all be having dinner together – and I was tired of my father picking on me for not sharing some of the samples I get.

On Saturday we opened the bottle during a dinner of grilled chicken and beef tenderloin with roasted potatoes. The wine was lighter than I was expecting, and it was a good pairing for the beef tenderloin, but it did somewhat overwhelm the chicken for me, but that might be because the chicken wasn’t very heavily seasoned.

Flavors of crushed red fruit were prevalent with a bit of cherry on the nose, all of which went well with the aromas and flavors of the grilled meat. That being said, I wasn’t blown away by this wine. That’s not to say I didn’t like it, but I think I wanted more out of it and it just didn’t deliver. Now, for $10 it’s a great value wine that will give you a wide range of pairings and is easy to drink by itself, but if you’re looking for a Tempranillo to pair with bold grilled foods that will hold up well…this isn’t it.

Not bad, worth the price, but nothing to get worked up over.