2021 Tempranillo

Just over ten years ago, Scott Helwig, a fellow Amador County vintner, invited Margie and I to a Tempranillo tasting. It was an informal affair with close to thirty different wines. The wines came from all over the globe and ranged from just two to ten years in age.  I still recall that night and how after Margie and I had tried just about all the wines, we came away with the conclusion that to catch a glimpse of what the “Royal” grape of Spain had to offer, we needed to focus on the more youthful wines. Since that evening we have learned that in Spain Tempranillo is produced in a number of styles differentiated by the length of aging, both in barrel and in bottle.  The simplest is called Joven which may not see any time in barrel and is often brought to market before the next vintage.  The Crianza wines must age for two years with at least one year spent in barrel. Reserva and Grand Reserva see at least two years in barrel, often more, and 2-3 years in bottle.  The Crianza wines exhibit a bright juicy succulence that the Reserveras have traded in on complexity and more terroir driven characters.  Lucky for you we make two Tempranillos.  One in the Crianza style and one in the Reserva.  The Crianza styled wine comes from the Liberty Oaks Vineyard in the Jahant District of Lodi and the Reserva from Ann Kramer’s Shake Ridge Ranch just outside of Sutter Creek here in Amador County.