2011 Tempranillo

Tempranillo is arguably the most famous of Spain’s native grapes.  Its name translates as “little early one”, referring to its early ripening.  Wine lore has it that Tempranillo vines are actually variants of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc, originally brought to Spain from monasteries in northern France by French travelers on the medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James, to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.  Ampelographers (a wine geek word if ever there was one) have not found the botanical link between Tempranillo and these classic French varietals but we wine folk have certainly never let the truth get in the way of a good story.  Today, Tempranillo is indeed one of the noble red wine varieties in the world, as important to the Spanish as Cabernet and Pinot Noir are to the French.  Our 2011 has aromas of spiced red fruit that lead into a full and rich palate with dense red and black fruit flavors of currant and black cherry.